Team PACT
Background
Team PACT stands for Preventive and Accessible Cervical Cancer Testing and we are partnered with Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Ghana. We have a Research and Development sub-team and a Business sub-team.
Our Mission
According to Dr. Asah-Opoku, our clinical advisor who works at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, “Cervical cancer is the commonest gynecological malignancy seen at the Korle Bu Teaching hospital, being reported to make up 64% of gynecological malignancies seen at the hospital.” In Accra, Ghana, only about 2.1% of women have ever had a pap smear. Our mission is to develop a method for cervical cancer screening that is effective, non-invasive, and cost-efficient. Our device accomplishes this by collecting urine to be screened for high-risk HPV strains.
Our R&D subteam is focused on developing and executing a testing procedure for a device and making improvements to our prototype. Our business subteam is focused on forming new mentor relationships, working with our current partnerships in Ghana, applying for grants, social media, and forming future travel plans.
Project Leads
Eitan Frankowitz
Team Lead
Neuroscience: 2026
Kyle Crockett
R&D Subteam Lead
BME: 2026
Arya Gandhi
Business Subteam Lead
BHS: 2026
Team Advisor
Dr. Thiyag's global work focuses on female reproductive and sexual health, combining her biomedical engineering and OB-GYN backgrounds. Her research interests in health equity align with the Center’s theme of empowering women, strengthening systems for health, and developing technical solutions. Dhanu develops and implements devices, simulation models, and programs to improve women's health in low- and middle-income countries.