Baylor Public Health Researcher Receives $2.5 Million NIH Award to Expand Cervical Cancer Screening in Ghana

Matt Asare, PhD, MPH, MBA, CHES, Assistant Professor in the Department of Public Health in Baylor University’s Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences, has received a five-year, $2.5 million National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Cancer Institute (NCI) Cooperative Agreement Award (U01) award in partnership with Dorcas Obiri-Yeboah, PhD, Professor of Clinical Microbiology at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana, and Nadia Sam-Agudu, MD, Professor in the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at the University of Minnesota Medical School.

Asare’s project, "The Impact of an Evidence-Based, Behavioral Cervical Cancer Screening Intervention among Women Living with HIV in Ghana,” further supports his work in promoting cancer screening in Ghana after receiving a NIH Dissemination and Implementation Research in Health (R21) award through the Fogarty International Center in March 2024.

Through a previous study, Asare demonstrated that the Home-based self-sampling for cervical cancer Prevention Education (HOPE) intervention he developed, paired with a 3R (reframing, reprioritizing, and reforming) communication plan, significantly increased cervical cancer screenings for women living with HIV in Ghana—women who are six-times more likely to develop cervical cancer and require early and frequent screenings. Now, Asare and his colleagues are seeking to maximize the success of the HOPE intervention by involving more participants in multisite secondary level hospital facilities, training healthcare providers at those facilities for cervical cancer screening and treatment, and facilitating the integration of cervical cancer toolkits into broader healthcare or organizational systems, ensuring they are used effectively and sustainably in Ghana. To do this, the team will leverage existing relationships with health facilities in Ghana, where they will develop and adapt implementation strategies for HOPE.

“This new grant will provide funding to continue the implementation of the cervical cancer prevention toolkit that was developed under the first grant, enabling the scope of the cancer prevention project to grow,” Asare explained. “In essence, the new grant allows us to move from the development phase to practical, real-world application, evaluation, and refinement, ensuring that the cancer prevention toolkits we developed are effectively implemented and making a meaningful and lasting impact.”

The U01 Cooperative Agreement Award is a unique mechanism that involves more substantial involvement by NIH staff in order to support a group of investigators working together on common goals. 

“Collaborating with others brings fresh perspectives and innovative ideas, and the synergy that comes from working with experts in different areas can lead to creative solutions and new approaches to the cancer control and prevention challenges,” Asare said. “Working closely with collaborators, I look forward to strengthening my professional relationships, leading to potential future projects and a more robust network of colleagues in the field of cancer control research. The opportunity to work with experts on the field cancer control and prevention to find solutions to real life issues is both intellectually stimulating and deeply satisfying.”

"We are incredibly proud of Dr. Asare's NIH/NCI-funded U01 grant award, which marks a significant achievement for our Department of Public Health. This $2.5 million project will play a crucial role in advancing cervical cancer screening for women living with HIV in Ghana, leveraging evidence-based strategies to ensure sustainable health outcomes,” said Leigh Greathouse, PhD, MPH, MS, RD, Interim Chair for the Department of Public Health. “As a cancer survivor, I am particularly inspired by the potential of this work to prevent cancer and make a lasting impact on the health and well-being of vulnerable women. This project truly embodies our commitment to global health equity and innovation."