Wikipedia

Diane Harper

Diane M. Harper
Alma materMassachusetts Institute of Technology (BS 1980; MS 1982); University of Kansas School of Medicine (MD 1986; MPH 1995)
Known forInvestigations in HPV vaccine trials; contributions to screening and policy; self-sampling to replace the speculum exam for cervical cancer screening
Awards
  • EuroGin Distinguished Service Award for Cancer Prevention (2006)
  • Prix Monte-Carlo Femme de l’Année (2013)
  • Society of Teachers of Family Medicine Excellence in Education Award (2013)
  • Curtis G. Hames Lifetime Award for Research (2015)
  • Notre Dame de Sion Outstanding Alumna (2015)
  • Association of American Physicians (elected 2023)
Scientific career
FieldsWomen's health care; cervical cancer prevention continuum; virology; vaccine development; cancer prevention
InstitutionsDartmouth Medical School (1996–2009); University of Missouri–Kansas City (2009–2013); University of Louisville (2013–2017); University of Michigan (2018–present)

Diane M. Harper is an American physician-scientist and tenured professor of Family Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bioengineering, and Women's and Gender Studies at the University of Michigan, recognized for full-spectrum translational research in human papillomavirus (HPV), cervical cancer prevention continuum, and evidence-based, cost-effective, and medical decision-making science. She served as a global lead study designer and site investigator in pivotal prophylactic HPV vaccine trials. Her work progressed to advance research about therapeutic or pharmaceutical HPV vaccines, self-sampling for screening, and vaginal microbiome interventions. Her academic appointments include Dartmouth Medical School (clerkship director, residency director, LCME team, Director of the Gynecologic Cancer Prevention Clinics), the University of Missouri–Kansas City (research director, and LCME team), the University of Louisville (as department chair, and LCME team), and the University of Michigan (LCME team and senior associate director of Michigan Institute for Clinical and Healthcare Research). She has served as a US Preventive Services Task Force member and as physician director for Community Outreach, Engagement and Health Disparities at the Rogel Cancer Center.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]

Early life and education

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Harper graduated Valedictorian from Notre Dame de Sion High School, a French Institute, in Kansas City, Mo. She earned a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from MIT in 1980 and an M.S. in 1982, then completed the M.D. (1986) and M.P.H. in Biostatistics & Epidemiology (1995) at the University of Kansas School of Medicine.[2][9]

Career

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Dartmouth Medical School (1996–2009); University of Missouri–Kansas City (2009–2013); University of Louisville, chair of Family & Geriatric Medicine (2013–2017); University of Michigan (2018–present). She was appointed to the US Preventive Services Task Force in 2016 and joined U-M's Institute for Healthcare Policy & Innovation and the Rogel Cancer Center in 2018.[2][4][5][6][7]

Research and contributions

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Prophylactic HPV vaccines

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Harper served as the lead US member of the global HPV vaccine clinical trials for both Cervarix (bivalent L1 virus‑like particle HPV vaccine (types 16/18)) and Gardasil4 (quadrivalent L1 viurs like particle HPV vaccine (types 6/11/16/18)). She led all randomized clinical trials in the upper Northeast United States for both vaccines trialed in young and mid-adult women. Her Lancet 2004 trial was the first to demonstrate efficacy against persistent HPV-16/18 infection; a 2006 Lancet follow‑up reported sustained efficacy through 4.5 years.[10][11] Her work in the 2007 New England Journal of Medicine article and the Bulletin of the World Health Organization highlighted the quadrivalent results.[12][13] The 2007 Lancet article presented its efficacay against vulvar and vaginal HPV-associated lesions.[14]

Therapeutic HPV vaccination

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Beyond prophylaxis, Harper co-authored a randomized, controlled phase II trial of the therapeutic HPV vaccine tipapkinogen sovacivec for CIN2/3, with 2.5‑year follow‑up showing efficacy and safety.[15] She continues active clinical trials with new compounds.

Cervical screening and self‑sampling

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Recent US studies led/senior-authored by Harper and colleagues showed that self-collected vaginal samples are equivalent to clinician‑collected, speculum‑based samples for HPV detection and genotyping, supporting primary HPV screening using self‑sampling devices. Findings appeared in Preventive Medicine Reports (2025) and Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention (2025); concurrent news coverage emphasized that self-swabs can match speculum exams for oncogenic HPV detection.[16][17][18][19] These are FDA-approved and USPSTF-recommended for cervical cancer screening. Since 2025, there has been widespread adoption of self-sampling in many primary care offices. Her work shows that family medicine and general internal medicine provide over 70% of all cervical cancer screenings in the US [JABFM in press].

Health equity: disability and access

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A 2025 JAMA Network Open study with Harper as senior author documented that women with physical disabilities face significant barriers with speculum‑based screening, and that at‑home self‑sampling improves comfort and may reduce disparities.[20]

Vaginal microbiome interventions

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Harper co-authored a randomized, placebo‑controlled trial in NPJ Biofilms and Microbiomes (2025) testing a multi‑strain Lactobacillus crispatus–based synbiotic to modulate the vaginal microbiome.[21]

Reviews and guideline work

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Her Gynecologic Oncology review (2017) summarized the first decade of HPV vaccines. It was a reference article for the ACOG Board Recertification Process.[3][6][22] Her policy‑facing interviews and institutional profiles reflect contributions to screening guidelines and global health initiatives. Standard recommendations from CDC/ACIP and WHO position papers provide the international context in which her work operates.[23][24][25]

Public communications and views on HPV vaccination

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Harper has advocated for vaccination within a balanced, patient‑centered framing, emphasizing continued screening. Media pieces and interviews (The Guardian, Medscape, NPR, MD News, and the Katie Couric Show) have covered her nuanced positions on benefits, duration of protection, and the ongoing need for screening even after vaccination.[26][27][28][29] Context around her appearance at an NVIC‑hosted event and in the film The Greater Good has been documented in external analyses and media.[28][30][31]

Awards and honors

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  • New Hampshire Family Physician of the Year (2006)[32]
  • EuroGin Distinguished Service Award for Cancer Prevention (2006)
  • Prix Monte‑Carlo Femme de l’Année (2013) [5][27][28]
  • Society of Teachers of Family Medicine Excellence in Education Award (2013) [29]
  • Curtis G. Hames Lifetime Award for Research (2015)
  • Notre Dame de Sion Outstanding Alumna (2015) [33]
  • Association of American Physicians (elected 2023; noted as first Family Medicine physician‑researcher on U-M profile) [6][34]

Selected publications

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  • Harper DM, Franco EL, Wheeler CM, et al. Efficacy of a bivalent L1 VLP HPV‑16/18 vaccine in young women. Lancet. 2004;364(9447):1757–1765.[10]
  • Harper DM, Franco EL, Wheeler CM, et al. Sustained efficacy up to 4.5 years of a bivalent L1 HPV‑16/18 vaccine. Lancet. 2006;367(9518):1247–1255.[11]
  • Harper DM, Nieminen P, Donders G, et al. Tipapkinogen sovacivec therapeutic HPV vaccine for CIN2/3: randomized controlled phase II. Gynecol Oncol. 2019;153(3):521–529.[15]
  • Young AP, Olorunfemi M, Morrison L, ... Harper DM. Impact of collection technique on HPV detection & genotyping. Prev Med Rep. 2025;50:102971.[16]
  • Harper DM, Young AP, O'Dwyer MC, ... Walline HM. HPV genotyping agreement for two self‑collection devices. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2025;34(7):1103–1110.[17]
  • Ravel J, Simmons S, Jaswa EG, ... Harper DM. L. crispatus synbiotic trial in vaginal microbiome. NPJ Biofilms Microbiomes. 2025;11(1):158.[21]
  • Harper DM, DeMars LR. HPV vaccines: review of the first decade. Gynecol Oncol. 2017;146(1):196–204.[22]

References

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  1. ^ Medved, Diane Lynn (1980). The fabrication and characterization of polyester and vinyl ester sheet molding compounds (Thesis). Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
  2. ^ a b c Durgin, Jennifer (2006). "Dream Work: Diane Harper, M.D., M.P.H." Dartmouth Medicine Magazine. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
  3. ^ a b "Diane Harper: HPV, cervical cancer screening, and balancing benefits and harms". ihpi.umich.edu. U-M Institute for Healthcare Policy & Innovation. December 12, 2018. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Appointment of Four New U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Members". United States Preventive Services Taskforce. February 2016. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
  5. ^ a b c "2013 - FEMME DE L'ANNEE". www.prixmontecarlofda.com. Archived from the original on April 12, 2017. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
  6. ^ a b c d "Diane M. Harper". medschool.umich.edu. Michigan Medicine. Archived from the original on August 13, 2025. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
  7. ^ a b "HPV specialist Diane Harper to lead community outreach efforts at the Cancer Center". Rogel Cancer Center. March 27, 2018. Archived from the original on June 9, 2024. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
  8. ^ "Harper elected to the Association of American Physicians". ihpi.umich.edu. U-M Institute for Healthcare Policy & Innovation. April 26, 2023. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
  9. ^ "Diane M. Harper, M.D., M.P.H., M.S." ihpi.umich.edu. U-M Institute for Healthcare Policy & Innovation. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
  10. ^ a b Harper, Diane M.; Franco, Eduardo L.; Wheeler, Cosette; Ferris, Daron G.; Jenkins, David; Schuind, Anne; Zahaf, Toufik; Innis, Bruce; Naud, Paulo; De Carvalho, Newton S.; Roteli-Martins, Cecilia M.; Teixeira, Julio; Blatter, Mark M.; Korn, Abner P.; Quint, Wim (2004). "Efficacy of a bivalent L1 virus-like particle vaccine in prevention of infection with human papillomavirus types 16 and 18 in young women: a randomised controlled trial". Lancet. 364 (9447): 1757–1765. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(04)17398-4. PMID 15541448.
  11. ^ a b Harper, D. M.; Franco, E. L.; Wheeler, C. M.; Moscicki, A. B.; Romanowski, B.; Roteli-Martins, C. M.; Jenkins, D.; Schuind, A.; Costa Clemens, S. A.; Dubin, G.; HPV Vaccine Study group (2006). "Sustained efficacy up to 4.5 years of a bivalent L1 virus-like particle vaccine against human papillomavirus types 16 and 18: Follow-up from a randomised control trial". Lancet (London, England). 367 (9518): 1247–1255. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(06)68439-0. PMID 16631880.
  12. ^ Garland SM, Hernandez-Avila M, Wheeler CM, Perez G, Harper DM, et al. (May 10, 2007). "Quadrivalent vaccine against human papillomavirus to prevent anogenital diseases". The New England Journal of Medicine. 356 (19): 1928–1943. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa061760. PMID 17494926.
  13. ^ Cutts FT, Franceschi S, Goldie S, Castellsagué X, Harper DM, et al. (September 2007). "Human papillomavirus and HPV vaccines: a review". Bulletin of the World Health Organization. 85 (9): 719–726. doi:10.2471/blt.06.038414. PMID 18026629. PMCID PMC2636411.
  14. ^ Joura, E. A.; Leodolter, S.; Hernandez-Avila, M.; Wheeler, C. M.; Perez, G.; Koutsky, L. A.; Garland, S. M.; Harper, D. M.; Tang, G. W.; Ferris, D. G.; Steben, M.; Jones, R. W.; Bryan, J.; Taddeo, F. J.; Bautista, O. M.; Esser, M. T.; Sings, H. L.; Nelson, M.; Boslego, J. W.; Sattler, C.; Barr, E.; Paavonen, J. (2007). "Efficacy of a quadrivalent prophylactic human papillomavirus (Types 6, 11, 16, and 18) L1 virus-like-particle vaccine against high-grade vulval and vaginal lesions: A combined analysis of three randomised clinical trials". Lancet (London, England). 369 (9574): 1693–2302. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(07)60777-6. PMID 17512854.
  15. ^ a b Harper, D. M.; Nieminen, P.; Donders, G.; Einstein, M. H.; Garcia, F.; Huh, W. K.; Stoler, M. H.; Glavini, K.; Attley, G.; Limacher, J. M.; Bastien, B.; Calleja, E. (2019). "The efficacy and safety of Tipapkinogen Sovacivec therapeutic HPV vaccine in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grades 2 and 3: Randomized controlled phase II trial with 2.5 years of follow-up". Gynecologic Oncology. 153 (3): 521–529. doi:10.1016/j.ygyno.2019.03.250. PMID 30955915.
  16. ^ a b Young, A. P.; Olorunfemi, M.; Morrison, L.; Kelley, S. A.; Laurie, A.; McEvoy, A.; Schneiderhan, J.; Prussack, J.; O'Dwyer, M. C.; Rockwell, P.; Zazove, P.; Gabison, J.; Chargot, J.; Gallagher, K.; Sen, A.; Chen, D.; Haro, E. A.; Butcher, E. A.; Alves, M. L.; El Khoury, C.; Dendrinos, M. L.; Brashear, N.; Smith, R.; Lieberman, R. W.; Saunders, N.; Campbell, E.; Walline, H. M.; Harper, D. M. (2025). "Cervical cancer screening: Impact of collection technique on human papillomavirus detection and genotyping". Preventive Medicine Reports. 50 102971. doi:10.1016/j.pmedr.2025.102971. PMC 11791345. PMID 39906308.
  17. ^ a b Harper, D. M.; Young, A. P.; O'Dwyer, M. C.; Olorunfemi, M.; Laurie, A.; Sen, A.; Chen, D.; Morrison, L.; Kelley, S. A.; McEvoy, A.; Schneiderhan, J.; Rockwell, P.; Zazove, P.; Gabison, J.; Chargot, J. E.; Gallagher, K.; Prussack, J.; Butcher, E. A.; Alves, M. L.; Haro, E. A.; El Khoury, C.; Smith, R.; Saunders, N.; Campbell, E.; Walline, H. M. (2025). "Comparison of Human Papillomavirus Genotyping by Research vs. Clinical Assay for Two Self-Collection Devices". Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention : A Publication of the American Association for Cancer Research, Cosponsored by the American Society of Preventive Oncology. 34 (7): 1103–1110. doi:10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-25-0116. PMC 12213154. PMID 40279251.
  18. ^ Lapid, Nancy (February 21, 2025). "Health Rounds: Swabs as good as unpleasant speculum exam for detecting cancer-causing HPV". Reuters. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
  19. ^ "Self-sampling for HPV screening found to be as effective as speculum exams". Michigan Medicine. February 14, 2025. Retrieved October 17, 2025.
  20. ^ Vinson, A. H.; Norrid, C.; Haro, E. K.; Ernst, S.; El Khoury, C.; Alves, M. L.; Kieber-Emmons, A.; Kamath Mulki, A.; Butcher, E. A.; Kalpakjian, C.; McKee, M. M.; Harper, D. M. (2025). "Cervical Cancer Screening in Women with Physical Disabilities". JAMA Network Open. 8 (1): e2457290. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.57290. PMC 11780472. PMID 39878976.
  21. ^ a b Ravel, J.; Simmons, S.; Jaswa, E. G.; Gottfried, S.; Greene, M.; Kellogg-Spadt, S.; Gevers, D.; Harper, D. M. (2025). "Impact of a multi-strain L. Crispatus-based vaginal synbiotic on the vaginal microbiome: A randomized placebo-controlled trial". npj Biofilms and Microbiomes. 11 (1): 158. doi:10.1038/s41522-025-00788-6. PMC 12335476. PMID 40783570.
  22. ^ a b Harper, D. M.; Demars, L. R. (2017). "HPV vaccines - A review of the first decade". Gynecologic Oncology. 146 (1): 196–204. doi:10.1016/j.ygyno.2017.04.004. PMID 28442134.
  23. ^ "HPV Vaccination Recommendations". CDC. September 23, 2025. Retrieved October 17, 2025.
  24. ^ "Human papillomavirus vaccines: WHO position paper, December 2022". Weekly Epidemiological Record. 97 (50): 645–672. December 16, 2022.
  25. ^ "Global strategy to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer as a public health problem". WHO. November 17, 2020. Retrieved October 17, 2025.
  26. ^ Goldacre, Ben (October 9, 2009). "Cancer jab fantasy closes down a debate". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved October 17, 2025.
  27. ^ a b "ROYAL MONACO N°8 SPECIALE CANNES '13". Royal Monaco. Archived from the original on January 24, 2025. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
  28. ^ a b c Burnett, Rosemary J. (April 2014). "The South African human papillomavirus vaccination programme for grade 4 girls: facts and fallacies" (PDF). SAVIC. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
  29. ^ a b "2013 STFM Award Winners". www.stfm.org. Archived from the original on January 6, 2014. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
  30. ^ Anderson, John (October 16, 2011). "The Greater Good". Variety. Retrieved October 17, 2025.
  31. ^ Specter M. Denialism: How Irrational Thinking Hinders Scientific Progress... (2009) p.7. Penguin Press.
  32. ^ "Geisel/DMS Roundup". geiselmed.dartmouth.edu. Archived from the original on January 9, 2023. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
  33. ^ "Outstanding Alumnae". www.ndsion.edu. Notre Dame de Sion School For Girls. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
  34. ^ "Family Medicine's Diane Harper elected to the Association of American Physicians". Rogel Cancer Center. April 27, 2023. Archived from the original on June 6, 2024. Retrieved October 17, 2025.
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Diane M. Harper publications indexed by Google Scholar