Submitted by D.P. Juan on Fri, 23/01/2026 - 13:45
Did you know that researchers often collaborate across borders? These research collaborations are often facilitated by University programmes, such as the Cambridge Africa Programme. This programme has a specific focus on supporting African researchers and promoting mutually beneficial collaboration and equitable partnerships.
Within our Department, Dr Sara Pensa and her Nigerian collaborator, Prof Nusrah Afolabi-Balogun, have benefited from this Programme through its Cambridge Africa Alborada Research Fund. Thanks to this fund and additional support from UKRI, the two researchers worked together to improve early human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer detection within the local population. Alongside developing a low-cost diagnostic method and strengthening research capacity in Prof Afolabi-Balogun’s lab, the two organised outreach campaigns to increase awareness around HPV and cervical cancer, offering free screening and follow-up care, which reached more than 600 women.
Dr Pensa and Prof Afolabi-Balogun’s work on the early diagnosis of HPV and cervical cancer has now received a new Cambridge-Africa Alborada Fund, allowing the two to continue improving the future health of Nigerian women together.
If you are interested in their work, Prof Afolabi-Balogun has written a blog post on the Cambridge Africa Programme site.