Cervical cancer is caused by the HPV virus and is often treatable if detected early. In the Netherlands, HPV vaccination and population screening play an important role in preventing cervical cancer. Still, not every woman participates in the population screening.
The For Women With Women (4WWW) project, a collaboration of doctors and researchers, aims to change this. The goal? To reach more women, break down barriers, and thus prevent cervical cancer. By talking to women, obstacles are identified, and together solutions are devised to make the population screening better fit their needs.
In addition, the team investigates innovative methods to increase the accessibility of the screening. Within Cancer Center Amsterdam, it is looking at using urine as an alternative screening method, testing for HPV and DNA methylation markers. In addition, the project is working to develop a “lab-on-a-chip,” a test that can be used to obtain a result more quickly, without depending on a laboratory.
Together with women, we are taking steps toward a future with less cervical cancer!
Funding
NWO/KWF
Academic Partners
Amsterdam UMC, NKI/AVL, VU, University of Twente