The MCGHealth Department of Family Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynecology have pooled efforts to create a cancer prevention center. The center works on many different innovative and cutting-edge projects, such as the current investigation aimed at developing an effective vaccination against human papilloma virus (HPV). This virus can cause cells of the cervix to change structure and become potentially malignant. Several clinical studies using topical creams to treat women with all levels of pre-malignant cervical disease are currently underway at the center with the hope of treating the cells without surgery, cryotherapy or laser treatments.

The Gynecologic Cancer Prevention Center (GCPC) at the MCGHealth Cancer Center is an international leader in preventive gynecologic neoplasia patient care, research and education.  This comprehensive center offers unsurpassed care for women with precancerous disease of the cervix, vagina and vulva.  The GCPC has the regions only nationally certified colposcopists, experts who evaluate women with abnormal Pap test results.

The Director, Daron G. Ferris, MD, lead author of Modern Colposcopy Textbook and Atlas, and Program Director of the American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology’s Comprehensive Colposcopy Medical Education Course for 12 years, is actively involved in patient care and cutting edge research.

A wide variety of clinical trials for prevention, screening, diagnosis and treatment of cervical neoplasia distinguish the GCPC from all others.  For example, the GCPC is conducting numerous studies of both prophylactic HPV vaccines designed to prevent cervical cancer.  Other studies of non-surgical treatment for cervical precancer, fluorescent and reflective imaging for non-invasive diagnosis of cervical disease, and new biomolecular techniques for diagnosing ovarian and cervical neoplasia provide exciting options to existing patient care.