10th December 2014

Professor Sarah Howie, MRC Centre for Inflammation Research at the University of Edinburgh, and Professor Heather Cubie, HPV Research Group University of Edinburgh

In Scotland cervical cancer is being addressed through a screening programme to detect the pre-cancerous disease and the vaccination of young girls against the two most common cancer-causing (high-risk) human papillomavirus types (HR-HPVs). However, infection of the cervix at the neck of the womb with cancer-causing HR-HPVs is common. Although most infections are completely cleared without treatment, in cases where the infection persists there is a risk of cancer. Hear about the progress and challenges in research into HR-HPV and cervical disease, and learn of the research involving local specialists and the community of a charity hospital in Malawi that is improving healthcare for HPV infected women.