Four promising research projects aimed at improving cancer prevention and treatment in low-resource settings have received pilot grants from the Duke Global Health Institute.
Since 2019, DGHI has funded nearly 100 early-stage research projects with pilot and travel grants totaling more than $1.6 million, one of the key ways the institute promotes innovative new research collaborations across campus. Pilot grants include one-year funding of up to $25,000 to support researchers in gathering preliminary findings that can be leveraged to secure longer-term external funding. The awards can be used to cover the cost of project supplies, graduate students and research assistance.
Proposals are often sought for projects related to a common theme to encourage cross-disciplinary exploration of pressing global health challenges. This year’s grants are designed to stimulate interdisciplinary research collaborations addressing cancer prevention, detection, diagnosis and treatment in resource-constrained settings, with a priority on projects that bridge the gap between research and implementation. Past pilot grant rounds have focused on issues such as climate change, mental health, and the application of AI to address global health issues.
The four projects, chosen through a competitive process, are detailed below.
Developing a Strategy for Integration of mSaada, a Digital Health Tool for HPV Screening, into the Kenya Digital Health Strategy
Principal investigator: Megan Huchko, M.D.
Drs. Huchko and co-PI Francesca Odhiambo (Kenya Medical Research Institute) will build on longstanding work in western Kenya to support HPV-based cervical cancer screening. Their project will assess readiness for scale-up, identify essential mSaada functions for laboratory tracking and case management, and develop strategies for integrating cervical cancer screening functionality into Kenya’s digital health platforms.
Community Head and Neck Cancer Knowledge, Engagement, Research, and Screening (CHECKERS
Principal investigators: Trinitia Cannon, M.D.; Nosayaba Osazuwa-Peters, Ph.D.; and Leda Scearce
The team will advance a community-engaged head and neck cancer prevention model in partnership with North Raleigh International Baptist Church and the Duke Cancer Institute Community Health Ambassadors Program. The project focuses on culturally and linguistically responsive education, faith-based health ministry infrastructure, and strategies to improve head and neck cancer literacy, detection, and prevention in immigrant and refugee communities.
SASA-SCREEN Zanzibar: A Phased Demonstration of Community-Based HPV Self-Sampling and AI-Enabled Cervical Cancer Screening
Principal investigator: Wenhui Mao, Ph.D.
Dr. Mao’s project will pilot an integrated cervical cancerscreening model combining pharmacy-based HPV self-sampling, AI-assisted clinic-based screening, and coordinated referral pathways. The project is designed to generate implementation, economic, and policy-relevant evidence to inform national scale-up and secure external funding.
Evaluating Factors Influencing Cancer Care for Children in Butaro, Rwanda
Principal investigator: Emily Smith, Ph.D.
Drs. Smith and Louis Mujyuwisha will examine factors associated with treatment abandonment among children with cancer at Butaro Hospital and quantify the out-of-pocket costs families face when children are referred outside of Butaro for treatment.
