2026/08/28
Persistent human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a major cause of cervical cancer and several other anogenital and oropharyngeal cancers. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women worldwide, and nearly all cases are associated with persistent high-risk HPV infection. Eliminating cervical cancer has therefore become an important global public health goal.
Against this background, the International Papillomavirus Society (IPVS) was established to advance research and international collaboration in papillomavirus-related diseases. Originating from international academic activities initiated in 1975, IPVS was formally established as an international academic organization in 2000. Today, it brings together experts in basic and clinical medicine, virology, immunology, epidemiology, and public health, promoting HPV research, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and the translation of scientific discoveries into clinical and public health practice.
Mission and Vision
IPVS promotes basic, clinical, and translational research on human and animal papillomaviruses and related diseases, facilitating the translation of scientific advances into disease prevention, clinical practice, and public health policy.
Guided by its vision of “A World Free from Papillomavirus-Related Diseases,” IPVS advances scientific understanding of papillomavirus biology and disease, promotes evidence-based HPV screening and vaccination, and supports the development of therapeutic vaccines and treatments. Through international collaboration, the Society also contributes to implementation of the WHO Global Strategy to Accelerate the Elimination of Cervical Cancer.
Global Influence
IPVS brings together researchers, clinicians, public health experts, and advocates from more than 110 countries, forming a broad international academic community. Its activities include organizing international scientific conferences, issuing policy statements, supporting early-career researchers, and promoting International HPV Awareness Day on March 4 each year.
The International Papillomavirus Conference (IPVC), the flagship scientific conference of IPVS, is a major international forum for HPV research. Covering basic science, clinical medicine, epidemiology, prevention, and public health, IPVC provides a platform for researchers and clinicians worldwide to present new findings, exchange scientific ideas, and develop international collaborations.
Each IPVC attracts more than a thousand experts, researchers, and healthcare professionals from over 100 countries and regions, highlighting advances and emerging directions in HPV research and supporting scientific innovation, international collaboration, and the translation of research into clinical and public health practice.
