For the next two years Ms. Allahna Esber, a doctoral student in epidemiology at Ohio State, will be studying human papillomavirus and HPV-related health conditions in a cohort of rural Malawian women. Esber was awarded the National Institutes of Health Center for Advancing Translational Sciences TL1 mentored research traineeship. The award includes full tuition, fees, and graduate stipend for two years.

“The long-term goal of this project is to develop an intervention to reduce the prevalence of HPV and the disease burden of cervical cancer in a rural community near Lilongwe, Malawi,” Ms. Esber said. “We will determine the burden of HPV infection in the community and assess which women living in this community would most benefit from an HPV screening or vaccine program.  My project will also look at the acceptability and willingness of women to utilize different methods of HPV screening and prevention.”

Esber said the TL1 research training program, which provides institutional support to students seeking a practical research introduction to clinical and translational research, will complement the training she has already received, and will provide the resources, expertise and support to ensure she will be prepared to address the health care challenges faced in the U.S. and internationally.

Read more on Ohio State University College of Public Health website.