One-stop affordable AI system for cervical cancer screening, triage, and treatment choice
Official title: A novel, one stop, affordable, point of care and artificial intelligence supported system of screening, triage and treatment selection for cervical cancer and precancer in the LMICs
Funded at International Agency for Res on Cancer · NIH-11182533 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses a quick urine test plus AI-read cervical photos to find high-risk HPV and early cervical precancers for women in low- and middle-income countries.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | International Agency for Res on Cancer NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lyon, France) |
| Project start | August 15, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $327,376 |
| NIH project number | 5R37CA275824-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11182533 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are women in low- and middle-income countries who are unscreened or due for cervical screening, including those living with HIV who face higher risk.
✕Less likely to help
This would not apply to men, to women who no longer have a cervix, or to people who cannot attend participating clinic sites.
What this research studies
You would first give a urine sample that an AI-powered device reads using infrared spectroscopy to look for high-risk HPV. If the urine test is positive, a dedicated camera takes cervical images that the AI examines for high-grade precancers and for the transformation zone to help guide treatment choice. The team has a working prototype and will refine the hardware and algorithms in the first two years, then validate performance across clinical sites over the following three years. The overall approach aims to provide a low-cost, point-of-care workflow so women can be screened, triaged, and offered appropriate treatment during clinic visits.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could provide affordable same-visit screening and treatment decision support that reaches women who currently lack access to care.
How similar studies have gone: AI-based visual screening for cervical precancers has shown promising results in prior work, while urine infrared spectroscopy for HPV detection is a newer approach with more limited validation.
Where this research is happening
-
International Agency for Res on Cancer
Lyon, France Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Basu, Partha — International Agency for Res on Cancer
- Study coordinator: Basu, Partha
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Community and digital tools to reduce HPV and cervical cancer burden
A nurse or health team will test a community-based, digital strategy to help girls and young women, especially in rural areas, get HPV vaccination and cervical cancer prevention services.
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Community and digital tools to reduce HPV and cervical cancer in women with HIV
A community- and digital-technology program aims to help girls and young women, including those with HIV, get more HPV vaccination and cervical cancer prevention services.
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mSaada: a mobile tool to boost cervical cancer screening in western Kenya
A mobile app helps community health volunteers manage cervical cancer screening tasks and follow-up for women in low-resource areas.
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Globally useful predictor for cervical cancer treatment response
This project aims to develop a simple predictive signature to personalize treatment for locally advanced cervical cancer using easy tests and imaging.
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HPV self-collection in HIV care to screen for cervical cancer in Ethiopia
A patient-centered program tests a simple HPV self-collection approach within HIV clinics in Ethiopia to help detect cervical cancer earlier.
-
Hybrid approach to boost cervical cancer screening in Uganda
A tested, community-driven program helps Ugandan women encourage their peers to get free VIA cervical cancer screening.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.