Preventing cervical cancer in women with HIV and HPV in India
Secondary Cervical Cancer Prevention of Vulnerable Women with HPV and HIV Co-infection in India
This project offers HPV screening together with nurse-led emotional support and nutrition (including protein supplements) for women living with HIV in India to help prevent cervical precancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California-Irvine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Irvine, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11401651 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be offered regular HPV screening and cervical exams combined with support delivered by community health workers (ASHA) and nurses. The program includes emotional support, skill-building, nutrition education, and protein-enriched food supplements, and staff will follow your immune markers like CD4 counts and body composition over time. Researchers will track depression, stigma, and cervical screening results to see whether this combined approach lowers precancer rates compared with usual care. This builds on a prior study of 600 women that found improved CD4 counts, lean mass, and mental health when ASHA-nurse support was paired with supplements.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are women living with HIV in India, particularly those at risk of or known to have HPV infection and who have limited access to screening, nutrition, or psychosocial services.
Not a fit: People who are not women, do not live in the study region, do not have HIV, or who already have advanced cervical cancer are unlikely to benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lower rates of cervical precancer and cancer while improving immune health, nutrition, and mental well-being for women with HIV.
How similar studies have performed: A prior R01 by this team in rural India showed that nurse-led ASHA support plus protein supplements was associated with improved CD4 counts, increased lean mass, and better depression and social support outcomes, supporting the approach.
Where this research is happening
Irvine, United States
- University of California-Irvine — Irvine, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nyamathi, Adeline M — University of California-Irvine
- Study coordinator: Nyamathi, Adeline M
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.