International HPV Screening Project

Zaporizhzhia State Medical and Pharmaceutical University (ZSMPhU), in collaboration with the World Against Cancer Foundation and Karolinska University (Sweden), is starting a significant project on HPV screening for cervical cancer using innovative self-sampling technology. The project will also involve the ZSMPhU University Clinic, which will supervise every phase of the research and subsequent monitoring.

This groundbreaking project was made possible thanks to a grant from the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) as part of the "Reimagining Cancer Research in Europe" Initiative, developed in partnership with the Dutch Cancer Society (KWF), Swedish Cancer Society (Cancerfonden), Danish Cancer Society, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).

The priority goal is to introduce innovative approaches to the early diagnosis of cancer among women in Ukraine, especially those affected by the war. Women aged 25 to 65 from eastern regions of Ukraine will have access to HPV screening, even in the challenging conditions of the ongoing conflict.

Professor Oleksiy Kovalev, the project curator, highlights that women can independently gather samples for HPV testing using the self-sampling method. When access to medical facilities is limited, this approach is convenient, accessible, and effective. The method will make it possible to identify precancerous conditions and help in the prevention of cervical cancer, which is one of the most common cancers among women in Ukraine.

This joint project will also be a significant step forward in establishing international cooperation between Ukraine and EU countries in the fight against cancer. The research results will be of significant importance for the further implementation of cancer prevention programs and HPV vaccination initiatives in Ukraine and other regions affected by war or crisis.