# Translational Core

> **NIH NIH U54** · INDIANA UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS · 2022 · $74,256

## Abstract

Abstract
The majority of new cancers that were diagnosed and the majority of cancer related deaths worldwide occurred
in low-and-middle income countries (LMICs) in 2018. This is in striking contrast to more developed countries
where cancer care and outcomes are improving. One driver of this difference is the human immunodeficiency
virus (HIV) which predisposes those who are infected to develop certain cancers. Despite the burden of cancer
in LMICs, there is a lack of organized research and support services to see to the successful outcomes of
research programs. In the case of cervical cancer, the confluence of high HIV prevalence, disparity in resources
and lack of infrastructure in research results in high burden of what could be a preventable disease. The overall
objective of this proposal is to improve the screening, prevention, and knowledge of the mechanisms of cancer
development as it relates to cervical cancer in Kenyan and Ugandan women. In HIV-infected women and
uninfected women, cervical cancer is caused by persistent infection of human papillomavirus (HPV). Though
infection with HPV is relatively common, only a small percentage of women will develop cervical cancer.
Environmental factors unique to Kenya and Uganda may also contribute to the increase in cervical cancer burden
in this area of the world. There is also a lack of understanding of the human molecular mechanisms and viral
(HPV and HIV) work together to promote cancer development. The investigation of how all of these factors
(environmental, viral, human behavioral and biological) interact in Kenyan and Ugandan women is the overall
objective of this program project. The role of the Translational Biology Core (TBC) is to support the scientific
endeavors outlined in the three projects and to provide an environment conducive to the training of new African
scientists in the field of HIV-associated malignancies. Not only will the TBC process and store samples collected
during the study period, it will also continue augment the biorepository that will provide samples for ongoing
research in Oncology in East Africa. As a part of this proposal, the TBC will be improving data sharing resources
in partnership with the International Epidemiology Databases to Evaluate AIDS in East Africa (IeDEA-EA) so that
data generated in Kenya and Uganda can be freely shared among members of the consortium. In doing so, the
care provided to women in Kenya and Uganda with cervical cancer will improve.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10477361
- **Project number:** 5U54CA254518-03
- **Recipient organization:** INDIANA UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS
- **Principal Investigator:** Aaron Ermel
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $74,256
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-09-07 → 2025-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10477361

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10477361, Translational Core (5U54CA254518-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10477361. Licensed CC0.

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