# Comprehensive Cancer Center Support Grant

> **NIH NIH P30** · UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM · 2023 · $211,912

## Abstract

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the U.S. and it has been
well established that high-risk HPV infection is causally related to cervical, vaginal, vulvar, anal, and
oropharyngeal cancer. This discovery led to the development of a safe and effective preventive vaccine that is
available in U.S. through most health insurance or federally-funded programs. The Advisory Committee on
Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends HPV vaccination for all children and adults ages 9 to 26 in the
U.S. However, HPV vaccination rates nationally and in Alabama lag far behind the Healthy People 2020 goal of
80% coverage. Despite multiple efforts, Alabama still ranks third in cervical cancer mortality and incidence
nationally with great disparities within the state, particularly between urban and rural counties. In order to
address this public health challenge, organizations have come together to develop, implement, and evaluate a
statewide action plan to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem in Alabama by 2033. This plan
was officially launched by the State Health Officer in May 2023 as a partnership between government,
academia, civic organizations, and non-profit organizations and is known as OPERATION WIPE OUT. While
the plan is comprehensive and we have outlined specific evidence-based strategies to promote HPV
vaccination along with cervical cancer screening/follow-up, the evidence on multi-channel communication
interventions (besides provider-focused interventions) to promote HPV vaccination uptake at the population
level is scarce, and the results are mixed. The overall goal of this Supplement is to develop, implement, and
examine the feasibility and scalability of a theory-driven, participatory multi-channel communication campaign
to promote HPV vaccination uptake that is designed and delivered by high school students with the support of
OPERATION WIPE OUT partners and linked to school-based vaccination in a rural county that has the highest
cervical cancer incidence in the state (Chambers County). Key components will include: (a) capacity building of
high school students providing them with knowledge, skills, and support to develop and implement the
campaign; (b) engagement of parents, teachers, school nurses, and school administrators; and (c) school-
based vaccination. The specific aims are: (1) To develop and examine the feasibility of a theory-driven,
participatory multi-channel communication campaign to promote HPV vaccination uptake with high school
students being agents of change and provision of school-based vaccination; and (2) To examine specific
features of the multi-channel communication campaign regarding scalability, sustainability, and potentially a
future full-scale implementation science trial. The primary outcome will be HPV vaccination uptake at the
county level. Alabama has a robust vaccination registry managed by Alabama Department of Public Health
(ImmPRINT). Additionally,...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10892475
- **Project number:** 3P30CA013148-50S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM
- **Principal Investigator:** Barry P Sleckman
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $211,912
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 1997-03-28 → 2027-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10892475

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10892475, Comprehensive Cancer Center Support Grant (3P30CA013148-50S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-01 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10892475. Licensed CC0.

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