Using community and clinic supports to improve cervical cancer screening and follow-up for Latinas
Official title: A Multilevel Social Capital Approach to Address Cervical Cancer Screening and Follow Up Delays among Latinas in Safety-Net Settings
Funded at University of Southern California · NIH-11422327 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project aims to strengthen social connections and clinic-based supports to help Latinas get regular cervical cancer screening and faster follow-up after abnormal results.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Southern California NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | July 3, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $249,000 |
| NIH project number | 4R00MD019292-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11422327 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are Latina patients who receive care at safety-net clinics in the Los Angeles area, especially those who are low-income or non–US-born and are due for screening or have had an abnormal result.
✕Less likely to help
People who do not identify as Latina, who already get timely screening, or who do not receive care at participating safety-net clinics are unlikely to directly benefit from this project.
What this research studies
This work looks at how individual and neighborhood social connections influence whether Latinas get timely cervical cancer screening and follow-up. If you take part, you may be asked to complete brief surveys about your social networks and healthcare experiences and allow researchers to link your screening records. Some patients and clinic staff will be interviewed to describe real-world barriers and ideas for clinic-based supports. The team will combine survey data, clinic records, and interviews to recommend how safety-net clinics can use social capital to improve prevention and follow-up.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could increase screening rates and reduce delays in follow-up, lowering cervical cancer risk for Latinas served by safety-net clinics.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research shows links between higher social capital and better screening uptake, but clinic-based interventions using social capital to reduce follow-up delays among Latinas are largely untested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Garcia, Samantha — University of Southern California
- Study coordinator: Garcia, Samantha
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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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.