Arriving at UCSF in 1982 for a fellowship in adolescent medicine, Anna Barbara Moscicki planned to follow in her father’s footsteps, taking a traditional path in medicine as a community physician. “My father was so dedicated to the practice of medicine,” she says. “It certainly influenced me, but my passion ended up in research. That’s what UCSF gave me – exposure to the world of research.”
Groundbreaking HPV Study
Early in her career, Moscicki recognized a critical gap in medical understanding of human papillomavirus (HPV). “This virus was a relatively new association with cervical cancer,” she recalls. She embarked on a groundbreaking study using fundamental research from the UCSF Division of Adolescent Medicine and grant funding from the National Institutes of Health. She recruited women through Planned Parenthood, San Francisco State University, and friends of friends, mainly tracking the same cohort of women throughout the study’s 25-year duration. This unprecedented continuity enabled her to map the progression of HPV in a way no previous research had accomplished.
Revolutionizing Women’s Health
The study also assisted in a better understanding of the virus’s natural history, particularly that all HPV leads to cancer. Her landmark research informed screening standards established by the American Cancer Society and other major health organizations. “Our study had an immense influence on how we manage, treat, and prevent HPV, specifically in young women,” she says.
A Legacy of Discovery
After additional fellowships in epidemiology and virology, Moscicki became a long-time UCSF faculty member in the Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine before joining UCLA in 2015. “I have been doing HPV research now for 40-plus years,” she reflects, “and my story unfolded at UCSF.” Her work has fundamentally transformed approaches to women’s health, creating new pathways for prevention and treatment.
