Research in Action: Bridging Gaps in Cervical Cancer Prevention

Margaret Stanley is Professor Emerita of Epithelial Biology, Affiliated Lecturer in the Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Honorary Fellow of Christs College, Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences, Honorary Fellow of the UK Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Honorary Consultant Cambridge University Hospitals Trust.  

Clare Gilham is statistical epidemiologist who has worked in HPV and cervical cancer research for 25 years. She is the PI of the Catch-up Screen Project, funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research, which will evaluate the impact of offering an at-home urine HPV test to women now aged 65-79 who left the NHS cervical screening programme before the introduction of primary HPV testing. She is also responsible for the long-term follow-up of two large cohort studies investigating the risk of cervical cancer following HPV infection: the ARTISTIC trial (a randomised trial of HPV testing in primary cervical screening) and the Manchester Cohort Study. 

David leads NOMAN’s education and advocacy initiatives and organises the Campaign’s extreme endurance events, such as the Barcelona – Ibiza: Row to End HPV, which serve as powerful platforms to raise awareness about HPV and its connection to males as well as females. With a strong belief in the importance of emphasising HPV as a gender-neutral issue, David advocates for expanding vaccination efforts significantly to alleviate human suffering, cancer-related uncertainties, and reduce healthcare costs. At the panel, he will share his insights drawn from experience and expertise in advocating for the prevention of HPV cancers, inspiring others to join the cause for a healthier, HPV cancer-free future.

Hana’s research explores individual and contextual determinants influencing adolescent girls’ HPV vaccine behavior in Japan. She has also engaged in a research project assessing the effectiveness of a social media chatbot on COVID-19 vaccine intention and vaccine confidence, funded by the Vaccine Confidence Fund. She has a unique background working both as a clinical nurse and a global health policy maker at the Ministries of Japan where she worked for improving access to healthcare and immunization at the international level. She holds a BSc in nursing from Osaka University and has completed an MSc in Public Health course at LSHTM

Jone’s research explores barriers and facilitators to cervical cancer screening and acceptability of HPV self-sampling among Moroccan and Pakistani immigrant women living in Spain. Her project is part of a broader population-based cervical screening program implemented by the Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO) in Catalonia. She has previously conducted research in the field of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) with special focus on the social determinants and implications of abortion laws and early marriage in El Salvador and Ethiopia. She has particular expertise in the use of qualitative and social network analysis methods. Jone worked as a journalist for over a decade and has completed a MSc in Global Health (QMU, Edinburgh) and MA in International Development Studies (UPV, Bilbao). 

Her research focuses on vaccine confidence in low and middle-income countries, healthcare professionals and societal preparedness for crises. She has worked in the Coallition to strengthen HPV Immunization Community for the past couple of years. She holds a master’s degree in Public Health with a focus on Health Promotion from The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.

Jo is in the final year of her five-year Yorkshire Cancer Research funded Fellowship which focuses on reducing inequalities in cancer screening, by understanding both the barriers and facilitators to uptake among different population groups. She has a special interest in cervical screening among migrant women, and is currently trying to develop acceptable interventions to improve uptake of screening for Polish and Romanian women. Jo holds a master’s degree in psychology from the University of East London and a doctorate in health geography from Durham University.