Oral HPV and throat cancer risk for Latin Americans living with HIV
Oral HPV Research Among Latin Americans Living with HIV (ORAL - H² Study)
This project looks for simple tests and risk signs to find which Latin Americans living with HIV are most likely to have oral HPV infections that can lead to throat cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Ctr & Res Inst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tampa, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11399253 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be followed over time with oral exams and mouth/throat swabs to check for high-risk HPV types, and researchers will collect information on behavior, age, alcohol use, and medical history. The team will test tissue or swab samples for biological markers, including DNA methylation changes, that might signal infections likely to persist or progress. Researchers will link these markers and risk factors to ongoing HPV vaccine work and other prevention efforts. The goal is to find easy-to-measure signs that tell doctors who needs closer surveillance or preventative action.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults living with HIV of Latin American background—particularly men—who can attend study visits at participating clinics are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without HIV or those not exposed to oral HPV are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help detect precancerous changes earlier and focus prevention or surveillance on people with HIV who are at highest risk for oropharyngeal cancer.
How similar studies have performed: HPV vaccination studies have reduced infections in other settings, but reliable mouth-based tests to detect precancerous oropharyngeal lesions remain limited, so parts of this approach are novel.
Where this research is happening
Tampa, United States
- H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Ctr & Res Inst — Tampa, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Giuliano, Anna R. — H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Ctr & Res Inst
- Study coordinator: Giuliano, Anna R.
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 below.