Grant: Applied Public Health Chair - LOI

We have learned that over 16% of cancers are due to infections, and HPV is responsible for about 5% of cancers in the world. There are now opportunities to prevent cancers if we prevent and control these infections. With an applied public health chair, I would build on my established research studies to better learn how to prevent and detect cancers caused by HPV infections. My research would be conducted both in Canada and globally, and would be focused on studying activities that could be used immediately to prevent and treat cancers caused by HPV infections. I would study the prevention of HPV related cancers using the HPV vaccine and using better screening techniques to offer early treatment for cancers. Specifically, I would look at ways to improve the uptake of the HPV vaccine, and would determine if we can use fewer doses of the HPV vaccine. I would study whether or not the HPV vaccine has reduced cancers of the cervix, but also other cancers in women, and would also see if the HPV vaccine has reduced cancers in men. I would also study new ways to screen for cervical cancer, and see if we can develop ways to screen that are less costly and equally as effective in developing countries. These studies will all be done in partnership with decision makers, to ensure that the research we conduct will help to improve health. We also expect that lessons we learn from HPV can be applied to other infections that cause cancer, such as Hepatitis.