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Announcing the 2025 Center for Global Oncology Foundational Research Grant Recipients
The Center for Global Oncology is proud to announce the recipients of its 2025 Foundational Research Grant Awards, which support bold, equity-focused cancer research in low-resource settings, including two impactful projects funded this year.
These outstanding investigators exemplify the Center's mission to support innovative global oncology research that advances equitable cancer care. We congratulate them on their important work and look forward to the impact of their findings.
Leveraging Red Blood Cells for Ultrasensitive HPV Detection in Low-Resource Settings led by Dr. Nilam Mangalmurti.
This translational research explores the use of red blood cells (RBCs) as a novel platform for detecting HPV-16 DNA. By optimizing RBC-based diagnostics, the investigators aim to enable low-cost, blood-based cervical cancer screening in countries like Botswana. This could transform early detection & reduce cervical cancer mortality in underserved regions.
Dr. Nilam Mangalmurti is an Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and a leading expert in red blood cell immunobiology. Her NIH- and DoD-funded research explores how RBCs regulate immune responses, with a focus on translational applications in diagnostics and critical illness.
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Development of Breast Cancer and HIV Intersectional Stigma Measures led by Dr. Yehoda Martei
This project seeks to measure and understand the unique stigma faced by women living with both HIV and breast cancer in Botswana. By developing validated intersectional stigma instruments, Dr. Martei’s work will inform targeted interventions to reduce stigma-related barriers to care and improve survival outcomes.
Dr. Yehoda Martei is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology-Oncology. A clinical epidemiologist and implementation scientist, her research focuses on breast cancer care delivery in sub-Saharan Africa, with an emphasis on equity & outcomes for people living with HIV. Follow us on LinkedIn
Advocating for Comprehensive Cervical Cancer Care
Despite having the tools to prevent, and even eliminate, cervical cancer, it continues to affect hundreds of thousands of women, families, and communities each year, largely because access to life-saving vaccines, screening, and treatment remains scarce in the places that need them most.
To advocate for strategic investments in treatment, Dr. Grover joined the second Global Cervical Cancer Elimination Forum. Here government officials and global health implementors, including Gavi, Unitaid, UNICEF, EPICC and the Gates Foundation, gathered to assess progress, sharpen strategies on vaccination, screening, and treatment, while catalyzing fresh commitments toward the ambitious goal of global elimination.
Speaking to international implementors, Dr. Grover advocated for funding beyond vaccination programs and recognize that, “Now is the time for us to think hard about the treatment pillar to target cervical cancer elimination fully and comprehensively,” said Dr. Grover, underscoring Penn’s commitment to supporting interventions beyond prevention.
Throughout the Forum, Dr. Grover held early-stage discussions with leaders from Rwanda and Papua New Guinea on expanding radiation and brachytherapy capacity—conversations that signaled tangible national-level engagement. She facilitated dialogue among global funders to spotlight the urgent need to fund not only HPV vaccination, but also treatment access. By elevating treatment support alongside prevention, Penn is helping to shift global strategies in the fight to eliminate cervical cancer.
Influencing National Cancer Control Policies
National cancer control plans are essential frameworks for coordinating effective, evidence-based responses to the growing cancer burden, guiding investment, policy, and clinical strategies at the national level. At the Union for International Cancer Control’s (UICC) National Cancer Control Plan forum, Dr. Grover advised best practices in developing and implementing national cancer control plans to the investment case for such efforts. She shared her experience and Penn’s expertise advising decision makers to craft laws and policies to better plan for cancer control. She positioned the Center for Global Oncology as a national-level capacity builder eager to support innovative public policy.
Forging New Partnerships at the IAEA Radiation Oncology Summit
Closing the busy spring season, Dr. Grover helped catalyze new institutional partnerships with the Swiss-led City Cancer Challenge at the IAEA-ICARO meeting. Together Penn, IAEA and C/CAN will leverage their shared mission to advance and wider reach to position further advance access to radiation oncology expertise, equipment, and impact.