NCI ‘Last Mile’ Initiative Innovates Self-Sampling for HPV Screening

The National Cancer Institute’s Last Mile initiative is exploring new ways at getting screening tests for cervical cancer into more hands. Women who die from cervical cancer often have had limited or no access to screenings. This is just one element that has largely driven the White House’s Cancer Moonshot Program to significantly reduce the death rate from cancer over the coming years.

Dr. Vikrant Sahasrabuddhe, deputy chief of the Breast and Gynecologic Cancer Research Group and Program Director in the Division of Cancer Prevention at NCI, discusses more about how technology and research are driving the Last Mile initiative and how it is reducing health inequities by reaching women where they are with more at-home screening options. Sahasrabuddhe also highlights how advancements with tools like AI are improving diagnosing and treating cervical cancer.