Dr Kati Taghavi

Dr Kati Taghavi completed an MD-PhD in epidemiology investigating the secondary prevention of cervical cancer in sub-Saharan among women living with HIV (WLWH). She used observational studies to highlight gaps within screening programs, systematic reviews to explore potential solutions to these gaps, and conducted a screening test accuracy study to investigate the efficacy of a novel screening method (the Gynocular™) which was the first of its type among WLWH in Zambia. Kati’s research has since evolved into further projects. In Zambia, her team have received funding for the 5^th year of follow-up in the screening test accuracy study, allowing an evaluation of long-term outcomes and the dynamics of HPV infection and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia among closely screened WLWH. In Zimbabwe, following a finding of reduced treatment efficacy in the observational study of her PhD, her team have received funding to explore treatment failure and tests to measure treatment efficacy among WLWH who carry the highest burden of disease globally.  In addition, Kati has been a consultant in the WHO’s 2021 cervical screening and treatment guidelines and currently works on the European Commission Initiative on Cervical Cancer (EC-CvC).