The original AITRP training program strengthened the research partnership with Moi University and the AMPATH Consortium in Eldoret, Kenya. It expanded and led to the Brown/Moi Training Program for the Prevention of HIV-Related Cervical Cancer (FIC-NIH 5D43TW011317), directed by Dr. Susan Cu-Uvin from Brown and Drs. Omenge Orango and Dr. Philip Tonui from Moi University to strengthen research capacity and advance cervical cancer prevention efforts in Kenya. Over five years, the program has trained six graduate-level Kenyan investigators at Brown while supporting workshops and symposiums across Kenya to strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration.

The Kenyan trainees are the driving force behind this work. Coming from clinical, laboratory, and public health backgrounds, they are building the scientific foundation necessary to prevent and ultimately eliminate cervical cancer. The D43 program offers the skills, mentorship, and research environment these emerging scientists need to make a lasting impact.

One of those researchers is Titus Maina, a PhD trainee whose work truly captures what the program is about. For Titus, “success in my D43 research is about being part of a scientific community that develops tools, strategies, and solutions that can make a real impact on women’s health, especially in low-resource settings.” Learning to conduct research “end-to-end”, from study design to participant engagement, has been one of the most transformative aspects of his training.

For Nelson Anangwe, success is rooted in collaboration and capacity building. He describes the D43 as “a platform that combines rigorous scientific training with practical application in low-resource settings such as Kenya.” As a public health and implementation science trainee, Nelson sees the program as a pathway to strengthening health systems, advancing behavioral health, and generating evidence to inform policy and community-tailored interventions. “The program emphasizes sustainable research capacity and international collaboration,” he explains, noting that these values are foundational to his growth as a global health researcher.

Joan Chepngeno similarly defines success through the lens of impact and collaboration. Her fellowship allowed her to work closely with women at an AMPATH cervical cancer screening clinic, where she saw firsthand the effects of misinformation around cervical cancer and HPV vaccination. This experience motivated her to conduct formative research, co-led with Nelson, to identify knowledge gaps and develop clear, accessible communication tools for patient education. “This deepened my understanding of the barriers women face in accessing screening and reproductive health services,” she explains. It also became the foundation for her thesis on contraceptive use among WLHIV who have been treated for cervical dysplasia.

Research led by Dr. Cu-Uvin, Dr. Bailey, and the D43 trainees has reshaped how cervical cancer is understood and prevented in Kenya. Their work reinforces the evidence that WLHIV face substantially higher risk of persistent high-risk HPV infection.

Mentorship remains a cornerstone of the program.

They share a vision of strengthening Kenyan-led research, improving cervical cancer prevention, and mentoring the next generation of scientists.

On this World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day, the Center for Global Health Equity celebrates the leadership of Dr. Cu-Uvin, Dr. Bailey, and the D43 trainees: scientists whose work is driving meaningful change in cervical cancer prevention and care in Kenya. Their efforts demonstrate what global health equity really means: locally led research, sustained training, and partnerships grounded in trust, mentorship, and a shared purpose.

CGHE wants to take advantage of today to thank Dr. Cu-Uvin for her significant contributions to global health at Brown and in Rhode Island as she approaches her well-deserved retirement at the end of 2025.