Point of Care: easier triage and treatment to improve cervical cancer screening
Official title: POINT of CARE: PrOviding an Innovative New Triage and Treatment strategy for Cervical cAncer scReening Efficiency
Funded at Basic Health International, INC. · NIH-11194431 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A portable, battery-powered thermal ablation device with an added endocervical probe and AI-guided imaging aims to improve treatment of cervical precancer for women screened in low- and middle-income countries.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Basic Health International, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | September 18, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $608,735 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA285369-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11194431 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Women who screen positive for high-risk HPV or have abnormal cervical screening results and are eligible for ablative treatment at participating low-resource clinics are ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
Women with suspected invasive cancer, large lesions requiring excision, certain pregnancies, or those needing specialized surgical care are unlikely to benefit from this ablation-focused approach.
What this research studies
This project combines a handheld thermal ablation device with a digital colposcope and machine-learning software to help clinicians find and treat precancer on the cervix. The handheld device will be modified to include an endocervical probe so it can reach the squamocolumnar junction where most precancers arise. The goal is to allow screening, triage, and same-day treatment in low-resource clinics without needing large desktop equipment or extensive infrastructure. Patients will be followed after treatment to compare outcomes and confirm the device and AI guidance work well in real clinic settings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could expand access to effective same-day treatment for cervical precancer and reduce cervical cancer deaths in low-resource settings.
How similar studies have gone: Desktop thermal ablation with an endocervical probe has shown excellent long-term cure rates (~97%), handheld battery devices without endocervical probes have had lower cure rates (~83%), and combining a handheld endocervical probe with AI guidance is a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Basic Health International, INC.
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Masch, Rachel — Basic Health International, INC.
- Study coordinator: Masch, Rachel
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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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.
-
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.
-
HOPE-inG: Increasing cervical cancer screening for women with HIV in Ghana
A study tests a home-based HPV self-sampling approach plus a tailored communication plan to help women living with HIV in Ghana get screened more often for cervical cancer.
-
CODA-based cervical cancer screening for LMICs using CRISPR and fluorescence
A low-resource, rapid test called CODA uses CRISPR and light signals to detect cervical cancer markers in women in sub-Saharan Africa to improve screening.
-
CODA-based cervical cancer screening in low-resource settings
A new, quick, low-cost test using CRISPR and fluorescence readouts to help screen for cervical cancer in women in sub-Saharan Africa.
-
CATSystem: a digital tool to boost cervical cancer screening and follow-up in Kenya
A digital tracking system helps doctors and patients in Kenya improve cervical cancer screening, treatment referrals, and follow-up, especially for women living with HIV.
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.