Canberra, Australia – In a landmark event, the Australian Centre for the Prevention of Cervical Cancer (ACPCC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, to strengthen collaborative efforts in the global fight against cervical cancer. This partnership formalizes a relationship that began when ACPCC joined the Australian Global Health Alliance and continued to grow through initiatives like the Pacific Friends of Global Health. The MOU signals a new era of support for global vaccination programs and cervical cancer screening, especially in underserved regions.
Cervical cancer is uniquely preventable through both screening and vaccination. Founded in 1965, the ACPCC has been at the forefront of these efforts, initially leading cytology and testing services that enabled early detection. These early initiatives were crucial, as they allowed cancer to be detected in its earliest stages, often before symptoms appeared, saving countless lives and setting the stage for more advanced prevention strategies.
In the 2000s, cervical cancer prevention saw a monumental breakthrough: the development of the HPV vaccine. Human papillomavirus (HPV), the leading cause of cervical cancer, can now be combated with a vaccine that first became widely available to Australian adolescents in 2007. Through a government-funded initiative, Australia became one of the first countries to offer HPV vaccinations on a national scale. The ACPCC was commissioned to establish and operate the National HPV Vaccination Register, ensuring that vaccination data was systematically tracked.
The impact was immediate. Within just a few years, infection rates of HPV types most likely to cause cervical cancer dropped significantly. In 2011, the ACPCC published the world’s first evidence demonstrating the vaccine’s impact on reducing precancerous cervical abnormalities. Encouraged by these outcomes, the program was expanded to include boys in 2013, acknowledging HPV’s broader health risks and the additional benefit of reducing transmission across all demographics.
Continuing to build on its success, the ACPCC published observational evidence in 2019 supporting a single-dose HPV vaccination schedule. This advancement was possible through data analysis from Australia’s cervical screening registers and the National HPV Vaccination Register, underscoring the power of linked data systems in driving research and policy.
Australia’s is now on track to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health issue by 2035. This accomplishment not only demonstrates the effectiveness of integrated screening and vaccination but also sets a model for other nations aiming to reduce preventable cancers.
Beyond Australia, the ACPCC is extending its reach into the Indo-Pacific region through support from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) via the EPICC consortium, the Minderoo Foundation, and the recent Quad Cancer Moonshot announcement.
ACPCC’s canSCREEN registry platform is now being used to track vaccinations in the Western Highlands of Papua New Guinea and in Yap, with plans for expansion into additional provinces and countries lacking existing vaccination registration systems.
As ACPCC’s partnership with Gavi takes shape, the organization hopes to learn from Gavi’s expertise in market-shaping strategies for diagnostics, particularly HPV testing. This aligns with the Quad Cancer Moonshot’s mission to improve global access to essential diagnostic tools.
The work of the ACPCC and the success of the HPV vaccine exemplify what’s possible when health, science, and public policy come together. This new collaboration with Gavi will not only magnify ACPCC’s global impact but also accelerate the worldwide elimination of cervical cancer.
ACPCC’s leadership in cervical cancer prevention demonstrates that public health can be a powerful force for hope and change. Through this collaboration, the ACPCC is bringing life-saving programs to communities worldwide and redefining what’s possible in cancer prevention.
Much of ACPCC’s work in the Indopacific is made possible via a consortium of partners including the University of Sydney, the Kirby Institute, Family Planning Australia and NCIRS.
