Mexican Scientist Dr. Eva Ramón Gallegos Made Major Strides Toward An HPV Cure
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections in the world. While many strains are harmless, at least 14 can lead to cervical cancer. Approximately 50% of sexually active women will be infected with HPV in their lifetime and Latinas are at higher risk of being diagnosed with cervical cancer compared to non-Latina white women. Cervical cancer is also the second cause of death among Mexican women.
On February 11th, International Day of Women and Girls in Science, Mexican scientist Dr. Eva Ramón Gallegos and her mostly female-led team announced a breakthrough that could change women’s health forever: a potential cure for HPV.
According to the World Health Organization, cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women globally and one of the top causes of cancer-related deaths among women. That is what makes this discovery so powerful.
How It Works
The team used photodynamic therapy, a non-invasive treatment that combines a drug with light exposure (often from a laser or LED) to kill harmful cancer cells. After two decades of studying this therapy, Dr. Ramón Gallegos’ team tested it on hundreds of women in Mexico.
In Oaxaca and Veracruz, 420 patients received this treatment as well as an additional 29 patients in Mexico City. In Oaxaca and Veracruz, the treatment was effective in 64.3 percent of women with both HPV and cervical cancer, and 57.2 percent of women with cervical cancer but no HPV. In Mexico City, HPV was eradicated in 100 percent of 29 women with the virus but no cancerous lesions.
These results are not yet peer-reviewed and additional testing and research is required before declaring a cure has been found, but these strides are promising enough to offer new hope for millions of women.
Why This Matters
This breakthrough carries important implications for Latinas in the United States. Research shows that Hispanic women experience a higher risk of developing and dying from cervical cancer compared to non-Hispanic women (Barnholtz-Sloan et al., 2009; Canto, 2000; Carozza & Howe, 2006; McDougall et al., 2007). This disparity is linked to lower rates of regular Pap smear screenings, which remain the best tool for prevention and early detection (McDougall et al., 2007).
Barriers such as cost, lack of access to healthcare, and cultural and linguistic obstacles often prevent Hispanic women from receiving screenings at the intervals recommended by guidelines (Cheong, 2007; Ku & Waidman, 2003; Rodriguez, Ward, & Perez-Stable, 2005).
Future research needs to disaggregate data collected on Hispanic populations, considering factors such as ancestry, income, education, and acculturation. Without this nuance, public health risks missing opportunities to understand and address disparities in cervical cancer outcomes for Latinas.
A Win for Women in STEM
Beyond the medical impact, this story is about persistence. Dr. Ramón Gallegos has worked on this therapy for more than 20 years, with her dedication serving as a reminder to every woman in science that breakthroughs take time, but the impact can be world-changing.
Oaxaca-born Dr. Ramón Gallegos graduated from the Universidad Veracruzana, continued at the Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN) earning a master’s degree in cytopathology and a doctorate in chemical-biological sciences. She has been leading the Environmental Cytopathology Laboratory at IPN since 2001 while mentoring up and coming scientists.
Her research has been indexed in 53 publications, she has received national and international awards and in 2019 Forbes named her one of the 100 Most Powerful women in Mexico.
Ramón Gallegos’ work is also proof of why representation in STEM matters. When women lead, the discoveries they make are not just scientific milestones. They are legacies of hope, equity, and life-changing possibilities for millions of women and their families which are often overlooked.
Dr. Eva Ramón Gallegos is an inspiration and proof que she se puede.
