Single-visit cervical cancer screening with immediate thermal ablation in Kenya
Towards Cervical cancer elimination: Implementation and scale-up of a single-visit, screen-and-treat approach with thermal ablation for sustainable cervical cancer prevention services in Kenya
This project offers one-visit cervical cancer screening with on-the-spot thermal ablation treatment to make prevention easier and more accessible for women in Kenya.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11173715 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I go to a participating clinic I'll get visual screening for precancerous changes and, if needed, a quick thermal ablation treatment during the same visit so I don't have to return later. The project works with Kenyan clinics to introduce thermal ablation as an easier-to-run alternative to cryotherapy, trains staff, and strengthens supply and follow-up systems. The team tracks how many women are screened and treated and how well the single-visit approach is delivered across sites. The goal is to scale up sustainable, low-cost cervical cancer prevention services that reach more women in their communities.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Women in Kenya who are within routine cervical screening ages (commonly around 30–49 years) and have not recently received definitive treatment are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Women already diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer, those currently receiving cancer treatment, or people outside the program's target screening ages may not benefit from this prevention program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could greatly increase one-visit screening and treatment rates and reduce cervical cancer cases and deaths in Kenya.
How similar studies have performed: Single-visit screen-and-treat programs using visual inspection plus cryotherapy have lowered cervical cancer burden in low-resource settings, and early evidence indicates thermal ablation is a promising, more practical alternative though widespread implementation data are still limited.
Where this research is happening
Seattle, United States
- University of Washington — Seattle, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mugo, Nelly Rwamba — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Mugo, Nelly Rwamba
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.