Rapid, low-cost HPV DNA test for cervical cancer screening in Mozambique
Official title: Sample-to-answer HPV DNA nucleic acid test for cervical cancer screening in Mozambique
Funded at Rice University · NIH-11405244 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A fast, affordable HPV DNA test designed to help women in Mozambique find cervical cancer earlier.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rice University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $51,709 |
| NIH project number | 3U01CA292741-02S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11405244 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Women eligible for cervical cancer screening in Mozambique or comparable low-resource settings who attend participating clinics would be ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People who are outside local screening age ranges or already diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer are unlikely to benefit from this screening test.
What this research studies
This project is creating a point-of-care HPV DNA test that gives a sample-to-answer result without a full laboratory. The team is combining an extraction-free, multiplexed isothermal nucleic acid amplification method with a portable NATFlow lateral-flow detection platform. The aim is a cheap, rapid test that can be used in low-resource clinics in Mozambique and similar settings. If the device works as planned, it will be tested in real-world screening programs to see how it performs with local patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the test could make cervical screening faster, cheaper, and more widely available, which may lead to earlier treatment and fewer deaths.
How similar studies have gone: Other HPV DNA and point-of-care screening approaches have shown promise, but the fully extraction-free, integrated NATFlow approach is a novel combination.
Where this research is happening
-
Rice University
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Richards-Kortum, Rebecca R. — Rice University
- Study coordinator: Richards-Kortum, Rebecca R.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
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.