Screen-and-treat program to prevent anal cancer in people with HIV
Official title: Integrated Model for the Prevention of Anal Cancer using screen and Treat for HSIL (IMPACT)
Funded at University of Maryland Baltimore · NIH-11392743 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project offers regular anal screening and treatment to men who have sex with men living with HIV to lower their risk of anal cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Maryland Baltimore NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $134,565 |
| NIH project number | 3U01CA275053-04S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11392743 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are men who have sex with men living with HIV who receive care at the TRUST clinic or similar HIV clinics in Nigeria and can attend screening and follow-up visits.
✕Less likely to help
People without HIV, those who are not MSM, or anyone unable to attend the local clinic visits are unlikely to benefit from this program.
What this research studies
You would be offered screening for high-grade anal lesions (HSIL) and same-site treatment as part of routine HIV care at an MSM-friendly clinic. The team will train local clinicians, use existing clinic systems, and strengthen follow-up so more people who need treatment actually get it. This adapts a proven U.S. prevention approach to the TRUST clinic in Nigeria after finding prior under-detection and treatment gaps. Visits may include exams, HPV testing, biopsies, treatment of HSIL, and ongoing monitoring.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lower anal cancer rates by finding and treating precancerous anal lesions earlier in people with HIV.
How similar studies have gone: A randomized trial at 21 U.S. sites showed that treating HSIL prevents anal cancer, so this work adapts a proven prevention method to a Nigerian clinic setting.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Maryland Baltimore
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nowak, Rebecca G. — University of Maryland Baltimore
- Study coordinator: Nowak, Rebecca G.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Integrated approach to preventing anal cancer in HIV+ MSM through screening and treatment of HSIL
This project tests a streamlined plan to prevent anal cancer in people living with HIV by screening for HSIL and treating it at clinics serving MSM.
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Preventing anal cancer in people living with HIV
A topical form of HIV protease inhibitors is being tried to clear precancerous anal changes in people living with HIV.
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Screening strategies to find anal cancer precursors in high-risk people
Researchers will study markers from DNA methylation and immune signals to better identify people at risk for anal cancer before it develops.
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Integrated approach to preventing anal cancer in HIV-positive MSM through HSIL screening and treatment
This project tests a proven HSIL screening-and-treatment approach to prevent anal cancer in men living with HIV, using Ghana/Nigeria-based sites to learn how to implement it broadly.
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Better screening for anal cancer in people at higher risk
This project looks for biological and immune signals that could spot early precancerous changes in people at high risk for anal cancer.
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Anal cancer screening for people with HIV using genomic methods
A patient-centered screening approach using a genomic test to detect anal precancers in people with HIV, aiming to catch disease earlier and reduce unnecessary procedures.
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.