University of Saskatchewan researchers have a lead role in a $1.6 million Urban Public Health Network-led, national research project with the lofty goal of helping to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040.
Almost all cervical cancer is caused by the human papillomavirus or, HPV. It’s a viral infection that is the most common sexually transmitted infection. While HPV vaccination programs in schools can help prevent cervical cancer, vaccination rates across Canada vary from 60 to 90 per cent.
USask researcher Dr. Cory Neudorf says, “To eliminate cervical cancer, we need to aim for at least 90 per cent immunization rates.”
With funding from the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer and in partnership with the Public Health Physicians of Canada and the Rural Remote and Northern Public Health Network, UPHN has been commissioned to collect data on vaccination rates and to assess barriers to vaccination in local regions of the provinces. Neudorf, is president of UPHN, which comprises the medical health officers of Canada’s largest urban centres.

USask has signed a collaboration agreement to formally host UPHN projects, starting with the CPAC cervical cancer project which draws Health Canada funds.
The aim is to determine the reasons people have for not being immunized against the virus.
At the end of the two-year project, the group will make specific recommendations to guide government funding and changes to program delivery.

*Photo: Dr. Cory Neudorf, Thilina Bandara, and Charles Plante. (Credit: Submitted)