Preventing oral HPV-related cancer in 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 factors to help spot and prevent HPV-related mouth and throat cancers in Latin American people living with HIV.
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-11399254 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From your point of view, researchers will follow adults living with HIV in Latin America and collect oral samples and health information over time. They will test those samples for high-risk HPV types and look for easy-to-measure biological markers (like patterns of DNA methylation) and lifestyle factors that keep infections from clearing. The team will combine these lab findings with information about behaviors such as tobacco and alcohol use and sexual history to find who is most likely to develop persistent oral HPV. Their goal is to identify people who should get closer surveillance or targeted prevention because current methods cannot reliably find precancerous lesions in the mouth and throat.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults living with HIV (especially men) in participating Latin American sites who can provide oral samples and health/behavior information are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without HIV, those not living near participating sites, or anyone already diagnosed with or treated for oropharyngeal cancer are unlikely to benefit directly from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help doctors identify people with HIV who are at highest risk for oral HPV cancers so they can be watched more closely or offered preventive measures.
How similar studies have performed: HPV vaccination has reduced some HPV infections and related cancers, and vaccine trials are underway for prevention, but reliable tests to find precancerous oral/throat lesions remain limited so this biomarker approach is relatively 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.