Screening and treatment to prevent anal cancer in people with HIV
Integrated Model for the Prevention of Anal Cancer using screen and Treat for HSIL (IMPACT)
This program offers anal screening and treatment of high‑grade lesions to men who have sex with men living with HIV to help 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 ID | NIH-11176058 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You may be offered regular anal screening and, if needed, treatment for high‑grade lesions at clinics experienced in HIV care. The team will use a tested screening-and-treat approach and work with a trusted MSM-friendly HIV clinic in Nigeria to make the program fit local care. Local clinicians will receive training and the project will improve how abnormal lesions are found and treated so fewer cases are missed. The effort focuses on making this prevention approach practical and acceptable in real-world clinics so more people can benefit.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people living with HIV—particularly men who have sex with men—who are willing to undergo anal screening and possible treatment at a participating clinic.
Not a fit: People without HIV, those not eligible for HSIL treatment, or those who already have invasive anal cancer are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this prevention program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lower anal cancer cases by finding and treating precancerous lesions earlier among people living with HIV.
How similar studies have performed: A randomized trial in the United States showed that treating HSIL prevents anal cancer, but adapting and implementing this approach in lower-resource settings is newer work.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- University of Maryland Baltimore — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nowak, Rebecca G. — University of Maryland Baltimore
- Study coordinator: Nowak, Rebecca G.
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.