Screening and treatment 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-11176058 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 start | September 15, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $747,984 |
| NIH project number | 5U01CA275053-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11176058 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
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.
✕Less likely to help
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.
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.
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 gone: 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
-
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.
-
Screen-and-treat program to prevent anal cancer in people with HIV
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.
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.