Grant: Fellowship - Priority Announcement - HIV/AIDS and/or STBBI

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted and blood-borne infection (STBBI) globally, with 80% of people acquiring an infection at least once. Although most infections are cleared by the immune system, some persist and can lead to cancer. HPV is responsible for nearly all cervical cancer cases in women. In 2022, Canada saw 1450 cervical cancer diagnoses and nearly 400 deaths. Globally, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women aged 15-44. Despite the highly effective HPV vaccine, its inaccessibility and unaffordability keep infection rates high, especially in high-risk areas like Nairobi, Kenya. New therapeutic approaches are needed to cure existing infections. This study builds on a 43-year collaboration among the University of Manitoba, the University of Nairobi, and community members of the Sex Worker Outreach Program (SWOP), which operates 10 clinics in Nairobi focusing on sex workers' health. Sex workers often face stigmatization, limiting their access to prevention services, making them crucial in the fight against STBBIs. HPV and HIV research are community priorities identified during researcher-SWOP consultations. HPV is recognized in the federal STBBI Action Plan, highlighting its significance. This study aims to identify immune cell markers associated with natural HPV clearance by following HIV-infected and uninfected women with HPV for one year. It is important to understand the immune environment in blood among women who clear HPV, with or without HIV co-infection. This is because most HPV infections, even high-risk ones, are naturally cleared by the body. By identifying the key immune cells involved in natural HPV clearance or factors causing persistence, we can gain valuable insights for vaccine development. This study will determine why some HPV infections are not naturally cleared, aiming to design a vaccine to prevent cervical cancer and provide health equity to women in low- and middle-income countries.