High-risk human papillomaviruses Research
A WRH Research Group operates within our department's Cancer theme and is run by Prof. Karin Hellner
HPV Research: First Trial for HPV Vaccine
Why this project is important?
High-risk human papillomaviruses (hrHPV) are responsible for anogenital and oropharyngeal cancers, which together account for at least 5% of cancers worldwide. Oncogenic HPV cause 99% of all cervical cancers, and the disease is the 4th most common cause of cancer death in females worldwide, making it a global healthcare priority.
Although industrialised countries like the United Kingdom have benefited from effective screening programs, these vital interventions remain inaccessible to millions of women in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where cervical cancer has one of the highest mortality rates.
In the UK, the number of women omitting or withdrawing from the NHS cervical cancer screening program is steadily increasing, and this is becoming a national healthcare concern.
Whilst there is an urgent need to increase investment in basic health infrastructure in LMIC and promote screening attendance in the developed world, there are now unprecedented opportunities to exploit recent scientific and technological advances in targeting hrHPV-specific immune response mechanisms.
Our research
Cervical neoplasia is the abnormal growth of cells on the surface of the cervix that could potentially lead to cervical cancer. Our work translates into developing and testing novel therapeutics aiming to eradicate persistent human papillomaviruses (HPV) infections in women with established pre-cancerous lesions in clinical trials. This has recently led to the first in-human trial of the world’s broadest HPV vaccine – and is a major milestone in the fight against HPV associated cancers.
Whilst the benefit of prophylactic HPV vaccination is undisputed, there is no benefit for patients with established HPV infections. Persistent infections with oncogenic HPV can give rise to precancerous lesions (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, CIN) and ultimately cervical cancer; thus, this will be hugely beneficial for women carrying oncogenic HPV, which is estimated to be 12% in industrialised countries and up to 22% in LMICs.
Our first HPV Vaccine trial
NDWRH and Vaccitech Ltd, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery and development of vaccines for the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases and cancer, see the first woman in the UK receive the first dose of a novel therapeutic HPV vaccine for the HPV001 clinical trial in Oxford.
HPV001 is a randomised, placebo-controlled Phase 1/2a clinical trial designed to evaluate the safety and preliminary efficacy of VTP-200, Vaccitech’s immunotherapy for high-risk HPV infection and associated low-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.
The study plans to enrol 105 women with high-risk HPV infection and will take place at clinical sites across the UK and EU to assess the safety and efficacy of VTP-200 in clearing high-risk HPV infection and associated lesions 12 months after patients receive treatment.
VTP-200 utilises Vaccitech’s ChAdOx (prime) and MVA (boost) platform to elicit an immune response against HPV. The platform has a differentiated ability to induce CD8+ T cells, cells of the immune system which naturally clear HPV infected cells in cervical tissue. VTP-200 targets six early proteins from five different high-risk HPV groups and therefore covers more types of HPV than any other immunotherapy previously tested.
High-risk HPV infection is one of the major causes of infection-related cancer worldwide
It is estimated that over 500,000 new cases of cervical cancer and 300,000 deaths are attributable to HPV infection each year.
There is no curative treatment for HPV infection. Patients diagnosed with HPV currently wait for additional testing to confirm their infection has not led to cancer or undergo invasive surgery to remove any pre-cancerous cells. VTP-200 could offer a non-invasive solution to resolve HPV infection and pre-cancerous changes immediately after detection.
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The enrollment of the patient marks a huge milestone and is a crucial step in the fight against cervical cancer. Vaccietch's broad-spectrum HPV immunotherapy, VTP-200, has the potential to change the lives of millions of women suffering from HPV associated diseases worldwide. - Prof. Karin Hellner
in the news
1. Broadest ever therapeutic HPV vaccine to be tested in clinical trial
Treatment could clear up persistent infections and reduce risk of cervical cancer. Read Guardian article here.
2. Cancer Research UK Grant
Dr Karin Hellner was awarded a Cancer Research UK Biology to Prevention grant to undertake pre-clinical research into a broad-coverage vaccine to treat chronic human papillomavirus infection.
In this award funded by Cancer Research UK, Dr Karin Hellner, Dr Gemma Hancock, and Dr Cesar Lopez-Camacho (Jenner Institute) will design and pre-clinically test a new vaccine to treat chronic HPV infection to reduce the risk of HPV-associated cancers.
Unlike previous therapeutic HPV vaccines, this vaccine will be designed to target more types of HPV to increase the effectiveness of the vaccine in the UK and globally.
Useful links
Breakthrough in early epigenic markers for childhood leukemia
A new study by Professor Terry Dwyer and 17 global partner institutions has revealed crucial molecular markers found in blood that are linked to the later development of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) - the most common type of cancer in children.
UK's first HPV trial
On 5th July 2021, the first UK participant in the HPV0001 trial received their initial vaccine dose — recruited and supported by our dedicated OSPREA-Gynae team (now known as the Clinical Research Group).
HPV Awareness website
International HPV Awareness Day (4 March) - shines a light on a virus that we have the tools to eliminate and the power to prevent the cancers it can cause; brought to you by the International Papillomavirus Society (IPVS).
Latest publications
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Cervicitis decidualis mimicking cervical cancer in pregnancy
Journal article
Soleymani majd H. et al, (2025), Gynecologic Oncology Reports, 57, 101663 - 101663
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Modelling Endometriosis Using In Vitro and In Vivo Systems
Journal article
Black V. et al, (2025), International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 26, 580 - 580
The research team
Learn More About Our Research
For further details on our ongoing HPV research initiatives, either contact the team directly or use the contact button below.