# Point-of-care optical imaging to provide real-time histology to enable screening for cervical cancer and its precursors

> **NIH NIH K00** · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · 2021 · $105,299

## Abstract

Abstract:
The early detection of cancer is paramount when considering patient survival. Cervical cancer used to be one
of the leading causes of cancer-related death in women prior to the introduction of the Papanicolaou test (Pap
test) in the United States. Mortality and incidence have decreased by over 70% as a direct result of the Pap
test and early screening programs. However, cervical cancer is still the second most common and third most
deadly cancer for women living in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). This contrast in incidence and
mortality demonstrates the need for improved low-cost screening techniques appropriate for use at the point-
of-care. Recently, our laboratory, headed by my sponsor Dr. Rebecca Richards-Kortum, developed high
resolution microendoscope (HRME). The HRME is capable of imaging epithelial tissue in vivo at sub-cellular
resolutions for morphological changes associated with neoplasia in the cervix. However, fiber-optic
microendoscopy image contrast is limited by out-of-focus light generated by scattering within tissue and can
prevent analysis of nuclear morphology. While the HRME is a promising technology for point-of-care imaging,
poor contrast in highly scattering tissue must be addressed.
Here for my F99 dissertation research, I propose to develop and validate an HRME system capable of
performing structured illumination to improve contrast and remove unwanted out-of-focus light to enable
imaging of nuclear morphology in highly scattering tissue in vivo. Then, I will develop image processing
algorithms to analyze images for morphological features associated with dysplasia. Finally, the system will be
validated in an in vivo clinical pilot study of patients undergoing cold knife cone for diagnosed cervical
adenocarcinoma in situ.
My dissertation research during the F99 phase will provide training and expertise in biomedical optics and
translational medicine focused on analyzing tissue morphology in vivo. During the postdoctoral K00 phase, I
will focus on research pertaining to the development of molecular contrast agents used to target disease-
specific markers associated with cancerous growth. The goal is to integrate these skills to build a strong
foundation for a career in optical molecular imaging. The proposed training plan to achieve these goals will be
under the guidance of my sponsor, Dr. Richards-Kortum at Rice University. The combined training of the F99
and K00 phases will provide the necessary skills for an independent research career in optical molecular
imaging for improving the early diagnosis of cancer.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10169372
- **Project number:** 5K00CA212217-06
- **Recipient organization:** MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Pelham Keahey
- **Activity code:** K00 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $105,299
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-09-21 → 2022-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10169372

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10169372, Point-of-care optical imaging to provide real-time histology to enable screening for cervical cancer and its precursors (5K00CA212217-06). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10169372. Licensed CC0.

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