Comprehensive Cancer Center receives grant for project that seeks to improve cervical cancer screening in Puerto Rico

He Comprehensive Cancer Center of the University of Puerto Rico (CCCUPR) received a grant of $524,880 in direct costs from the National Institute of Health (NIH) to carry out a research project titled “The effectiveness, profitability and budgetary impact of interventions to improve the screening of cervical cancer In Puerto Rico”.

The investigation will evaluate the effectiveness of several interventions to improve early detection of cervical cancer in Puerto Rico such as patient reminders, patient navigation, and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) test self-collection.

“I feel immensely proud of our team and to receive this grant that will contribute to science and the fight against cervical cancer in Puerto Rico, a cancer that is increasing in our population. This is the result of many previous investigations, which have allowed us to justify the need and relevance of the proposed work.”stated the doctor Ana Patricia Ortizprincipal investigator of the project together with doctor Ashish Deshmukh.

“It is an honor for us to continue collaborating with Dr. Ortiz and her team in research studies in Puerto Rico and in vulnerable populations, which will help us continue strengthening strategies for the prevention of cervical cancer in the communities of interest,” said Deshmukh, who collaborated on the project as part of a partnership between CCCUPR and the Medical University of South Carolina.

This study also has the participation of doctors Josefina Romaguera from the UPR Medical Sciences Campus, Luis Pericchi from the Rio Piedras Campus, and Karen Ortiz and Guillermo Tortolero from the CCCUPR.

The R01 grant is a highly prestigious award awarded by the NIH to support innovative research initiatives with the potential to impact their respective areas of study. This important project is funded by the National Cancer Institute, the lead NIH agency supporting cancer research.