Aga Khan University (AKU) secures a significant research grant of Sh19.7 million ($150,000) from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to conduct clinical trials of a revolutionary low-cost, handheld 3D medical imaging device in Kenya. This grant, part of a larger Sh262.7 million ($2 million) funding program from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), marks a pivotal step forward in the fight against cervical cancer.
The handheld 3D medical imaging device, developed in collaboration with Pensievision Inc., promises real-time, high-resolution 3D imaging of the cervix to aid in early detection and analysis of cervical cancer. Led by Dr. Elkanah Omenge, Chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at AKU Medical College, East Africa, this initiative aims to make significant strides in addressing the burden of cervical cancer in Kenya and beyond.
The project, scheduled to commence in September, will be implemented at Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi, outreach clinics, and at the community level. With years of research and development behind them, the AKU team is poised to begin clinical trials in Kenya, Malawi, and the United States, offering hope in the fight against the second most common cancer among Kenyan women.
🌍 This collaborative effort underscores the importance of partnerships in advancing medical research and technology to combat life-threatening diseases. 💬 Joe Carson, co-principal investigator and CTO of Pensievision, expresses excitement about testing new life-saving technologies, highlighting the opportunity to work with health leaders at AKU.
