New pilot program tests HPV self-collection for cervical cancer

UT Health San Antonio has been selected as a recipient of the American Cancer Society's Self-Collected Human Papillomavirus Readiness Pilot (SHaRP) grant, a national initiative designed to help health care organizations prepare for and implement HPV self-collection as part of routine cervical cancer screening.

SHaRP supports the integration of human papillomavirus (HPV) self-collection into primary care and other clinical settings. This approach allows patients to collect their own samples for HPV testing and may help reduce barriers to screening while expanding access for people who are not regularly screened.

The project is led by Ramon S. Cancino, MD, MBA, MS, FAAFP, executive director of the UT Health San Antonio Primary Care Center and professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine. Cancino is also senior medical director of medical management, and co-chair of the Mays Cancer Center and UT Health San Antonio Joint Cancer Prevention and Screening Committee.

HPV self-collection has the potential to make cervical cancer screening more accessible for patients who face barriers to traditional screening. This pilot gives us an opportunity to understand how to integrate it into everyday primary care in a way that is practical, safe and centered on patients."

Ramon S. Cancino, MD, MBA, MS, FAAFP, executive director, UT Health San Antonio Primary Care Center

Expanding access to cervical cancer screening

According to the National Cancer Institute, persistent infection with certain types of HPV is one of the primary causes of cervical cancer. The American Cancer Society recommends starting screenings, which may include a Pap test, HPV test or a combination of both, at age 25 for average risk. Regular screenings can detect precancerous changes before cancer develops, and they can identify cervical cancer at its earliest, most treatable stages. Self-collected HPV tests are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in health care facilities under the supervision of a healthcare provider.

Testing HPV self-collection in primary care settings

As part of the pilot, UT Health San Antonio will implement and evaluate workflows for HPV self-collection in real-world primary care settings. The work focuses on how the approach can be integrated into routine care, how it affects screening and follow-up processes, and how patients and providers experience it in practice.

"Through this program, we are translating research into practice so that innovation reaches the patients who most need cervical cancer screening," said Sarah M. Temkin, MD, FACS, senior director of Early Detection at the American Cancer Society.

Advancing cervical cancer screening in Texas

The initiative comes at an important time in Texas, where cervical cancer screening rates remain below national goals and adherence to recommended screening continues to lag behind national benchmarks.

By testing self-collection in clinical settings, the project aims to better understand how this model can improve access to preventive care, increase participation in recommended screening and support earlier detection of cervical cancer.

The grant provides $30,000 in funding and runs through March 2027. Work begins with a planning phase in April 2026, followed by implementation and evaluation phases.

This project reflects UT Health San Antonio's ongoing commitment to advancing cancer prevention, strengthening early detection efforts and evaluating innovative strategies that expand access to care.