This grant establishes an inter-disciplinary research consortium between the University of Botswana (UB) and The University of Pennsylvania (UPenn). The consortium focuses on multiple areas of study related to one cancer type, HPV-associated cervical cancer in HIV seropositive patients as well as building research capacity in Botswana through a strong emphasis on mentoring and education. The Consortium brings together experienced investigators from UB and UPenn with expertise in mentoring, research methodology, viral oncology, cancer therapeutics, and behavioral studies. The central research theme of the Consortium is to determine the epidemiology, pathogenesis, behavioral, clinical, and immunological risk factors, and optimal therapeutic approaches of HPV-associated cervical cancer in HIV-seropositive women in Botswana which can be translated into effective prevention and treatment strategies that will lower the burden and associated morbidity and mortality of HIV-associated cervical cancer.
PI: Erle Robertson