University of Glasgow partners with Scottish medical device company for HPV treatment

The University of Glasgow is leading new test using a new microwave system to treat human papillomavirus (HPV).

The university is using a compact portable device, designed by Scottish medical device company Emblation. The device emits low doses of energy, helping to promote an immune response. It is hoped that the device that can treat cervical precancerous cells as well as genital warts.

During 2017, the device was used to successfully treat over 10,000 verrucas, which are also caused by the HPV virus.

The project is co-funded by Innovation UK and connects Emblation with HPV researchers at the University of Glasgow’s MRC-Centre for Virus Research. Scientists are now conducting tests with the device to find out if it can successfully clear pre-cancerous problems caused by HPV. The tests will study the effect of microwaves on HPV-infected, living tissue.

There are over 1 million cases of HPV every year with current treatments for precancerous cells being painful and invasive. If successful, the Emblation device could will offer a less invasive method of treatment. Current treatment for cervical precancerous cells involved a laser surgical removal of the diseased tissue. The method is painful, can cause sustained bleeding and comes with the risk that diseased tissue can be missed.

Professor Sheila Graham from the University of Glasgow’s MRC-Centre for Virus Research, said: “We are delighted to be working with Emblation to test their microwave device. We plan to assess if the device can disrupt HPV and whether there is an effect on HPV-infected pre-cancerous and cancerous tissues The project will validate the microwave device’s clinical potential but will also shed new light on how HPV-associated diseases arise.”

Dr Matt Kidd, director of R&D at Emblation, commented, “This project is an exciting opportunity to further our knowledge and understanding of microwave interactions with diseased tissue. Our device has the potential to address the challenges associated with the treatment of precancerous conditions of the cervix, and the funding from Innovate UK has been crucial in allowing us to work with the experts at the University of Glasgow. This research is a decisive next step in the evolution of our microwave technology platform.”