Making Cervical Cancer and HIV in the Asia-Pacific Region a Priority

amfAR TREAT Asia’s program bolsters efforts to accelerate research to improve the health of women and others at risk

June 22, 2026

L-r: Drs. Nittaya Phanuphak, executive director of the Institute of HIV Research and Innovation (IHRI) and a TREAT Asia network investigator, and Annette Sohn, amfAR VP and Director of TREAT Asia, at the 2026 HVP Research Forum

amfAR’s TREAT Asia program convened a forum in April to address Asia-Pacific regional clinical care and research needs related to human papillomavirus (HPV) and related cancers, and particularly cervical cancer in the context of high-risk groups such as women living with HIV (WLHIV).

More than half of the annual 350,000 global cervical cancers deaths occur in the Asia-Pacific region. This health challenge is compounded by the fact that WLHIV face an increased risk of persistent HPV infection, the primary cause of cervical cancer. Additionally, WLHIV have a six times greater risk of developing cervical cancer than women without HIV.

“As 2.4 million women are living with HIV in the Asia-Pacific region, amfAR’s TREAT Asia program has made research into cervical cancer prevention and control a priority,” said Dr. Annette Sohn, amfAR VP and Director of TREAT Asia. “TREAT Asia and its partners are working to ensure the uneven burden of HPV is reduced across the region. Though progress in HPV vaccination coverage and cervical cancer screening has been made in some countries such as Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia, other countries are facing challenges.”

TREAT Asia’s regional HPV Research Forum in Bangkok, Thailand, brought together clinicians, researchers, industry leaders, and community advocates from eight countries, including representatives from the pediatric and adult TREAT Asia networks. Along with presentations on regional vaccination, screening, and treatment services, and research priorities for HPV and related cancers, integration of HIV and HPV health services and strategies for accelerating cervical cancer elimination were among other topics considered.

At the forum, Dr. Jeremy Ross, TREAT Asia Director of Research, provided an overview of HPV-related research under IeDEA Asia-Pacific, a National Institutes of Health-funded research collaboration co-led by amfAR’s TREAT Asia program and the Kirby Institute of the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia.

“This HPV research has provided important insights into the epidemiology of HPV among at-risk populations in the region, as well as potential strategies for related cancers,” Dr. Ross said. “However, more research is needed to support vaccination, screening and care efforts, particularly on barriers to universal vaccination and screening; self-sampling approaches; and integration of HPV and related cancer services into HIV care.”

Dr. Jennifer Sherwood, amfAR Public Policy Director of Research, agrees that research to address cervical cancer needs to be sustained.

“Breakthroughs in science have made cervical cancer elimination on a global level an achievable goal,” said Dr. Sherwood. “Along with advocating for increased investment in HPV vaccination and cervical cancer screening, amfAR will continue to fight for more equitable access to services, increased community ownership, and robust research funding to end this preventable disease.”