Launching a harmonized, multi-country research study requires far more than scientific design alone. Complex logistics, standardized laboratory procedures, and extensive field training are essential to ensure data quality and comparability at scale.

Global Burden Estimation of Human Papillomavirus (GLOBE-HPV) is a case in point. The study is led by the International Vaccine Institute in collaboration with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Its purpose is to generate data on the prevalence of human papillomavirus among girls and women aged 9 to 50 years in low- and middle-income countries across South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, regions where significant data gaps exist.

Globally, HPV is responsible for nearly all cases of cervical cancer. While HPV vaccines have significantly reduced infection rates, vaccination coverage remains uneven worldwide.

Through the collection and testing of approximately 56,500 samples from around 29,500 participants, GLOBE-HPV aims to deliver a more accurate and comprehensive understanding of the HPV burden—evidence that is critical for informing prevention strategies, policy decisions, and future vaccine implementation efforts.

Nigus Telele, a virologist and molecular biologist, is based at IVI’s Europe Regional Office in Stockholm and plays a key role in the project as Laboratory Coordinator. He supports laboratory harmonization across sites, helping to ensure consistent sample collection, processing, and quality standards throughout the study.

Telele tells us what it takes to coordinate laboratory work across multiple countries and ensure high-quality, comparable data at scale.

It involves working with our partners and the laboratory teams on the ground to assist in managing the sites in Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, and Zambia.

We ensure that laboratory work across all eight countries is standardized, high-quality, and comparable. That covers the development of all standard operating procedures for the study—everything from sample collection and transportation to DNA extraction and HPV testing—as well as hands-on training for laboratory staff, building local capacity so each lab team can work independently while following standards.

The study uses cross-sectional samples to capture prevalence, and longitudinal cohorts to track persistent infection. For sample collection, participants self-collect either a vaginal swab or a urine sample, depending on the study type.

This approach allows us to reach more people than clinician-led sampling, which is time- and resource-intensive. There are around 29,500 participants enrolled in the study. Laboratory teams test all samples using the same PCR-based platform, including detection of high-risk types like HPV 16 and 18, which are most closely linked to cervical cancer.

Each country has different laboratory capacities, requirements and infrastructure. Maintaining a cold chain for biological samples, ensuring stable power supply, and delivering kits and reagents on time can be challenging to manage across all site countries.

Competency assessments are built into our training to maintain quality, addressing local staff turnover, and some sites face security issues, which can disrupt enrolment and sample collection.

In many of these countries, there is a lack of population-based data on HPV. Without it, governments cannot plan effective vaccination or cervical cancer prevention programs.

Through GLOBE-HPV, we are generating representative and comparable data on HPV prevalence and persistent infection.

This is already making an impact. In Pakistan, our findings contributed to the evidence used to support the introduction of a national HPV vaccination program and created baseline data that can be used to measure the impact of the national vaccine rollout. Similar applications are expected in other countries.

For me personally, it’s rewarding because it combines my expertise in virology and molecular biology with real-world public health impact—making the science directly useful for communities.

Launched in 2023, the five-year GLOBE-HPV study not only measures HPV prevalence but also explores cultural and social factors—examining women’s knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes, as well as gender norms and stigma that may affect access to prevention, screening, and treatment. Learn more about IVI’s HPV projects.

By: Christine Demsteader

Published: 4 March 2026