Verification and validation of a device for urine-based human papillomavirus (HPV) screening to reduce cervical cancer in low-resource settings

This project verifies and validates a low-cost device for urine-based screening for human papillomavirus, the cause of most cervical cancers, with an initial focus on Ghana. Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death among women in Ghana, yet fewer than five percent of eligible women have been screened, held back by the cost of Pap smears, limited access to trained clinicians, and discomfort with invasive pelvic exams. The device collects and analyzes the first 20 milliliters of urine for HPV DNA, which could yield HPV detection rates comparable to self-swabbing, while letting women collect their own sample in their usual setting. Developed with clinical partners at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana, and University of Michigan engineering students, the reusable device is designed to be more economical, non-invasive, and accessible than the standard of care, with the potential to expand screening toward the World Health Organization's 2030 goal.