Preventing cervical cancer in women with HPV and HIV in India

Secondary Cervical Cancer Prevention of Vulnerable Women with HPV and HIV Co-infection in India

NIH-funded research University of California-Irvine · NIH-11401650

This project offers HPV screening plus emotional support, nutrition education, and protein supplements to women living with HIV and HPV in India to help lower cervical precancers.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of California-Irvine NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Irvine, United States)
Project IDNIH-11401650 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

You would be offered regular HPV screening and cervical exams alongside counseling, social support, and nutrition help delivered by community health workers (ASHA) and nurses. The program compares women who receive the combined ASHA-nurse support and protein supplementation with those receiving usual care, with active follow-up over time. Study staff will monitor cervical screening results, immune (CD4) counts, body composition, and mental health to see whether the combined approach reduces precancerous cervical lesions. This work builds on a prior trial of 600 women that showed improved CD4 counts, lean mass, and mental health with the ASHA-Nutrition approach.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Women in India living with HIV who are eligible for HPV screening, able to attend local clinic visits, and willing to receive counseling and nutritional supplementation are the ideal candidates.

Not a fit: People without HIV, those who cannot travel to participating clinics, or those who decline the screening, counseling, or supplementation may not benefit from this program.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could reduce the development of cervical precancers and ultimately lower cervical cancer risk among women living with HIV by improving screening, nutrition, and immune health.

How similar studies have performed: The same team’s prior trial showed improved CD4 counts, lean mass, and mental health with this intervention, but direct prevention of cervical cancer remains to be demonstrated.

Where this research is happening

Irvine, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome VirusAcquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Virus
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.