NIH-funded research R03 grant

Creating tools to study HPV16 in throat tissues

Official title: Developing tools to study HPV16 in oropharyngeal tissues

Funded at University of Arizona · NIH-11034194 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is looking at how the HPV16 virus might lead to throat cancers, and it's for anyone interested in understanding this connection better, as researchers will create special cell lines from tonsil tissues to learn more about the virus and how different versions of it could influence cancer risk.

Quick facts

Grant typeR03 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Arizona
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Tucson, United States)
Project startNovember 15, 2024
Project endOctober 31, 2026
Funding year2025
Award (this year)$75,013
NIH project number1R03AI187892-01
Project IDNIH-11034194 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with a history of HPV infection or those diagnosed with oropharyngeal cancer.

Less likely to help

Patients who do not have HPV-related conditions or oropharyngeal cancers may not benefit from this research.

What this research studies

This research focuses on understanding how the HPV16 virus contributes to oropharyngeal cancers, which are increasingly common in the U.S. The team will develop specialized cell lines from tonsil tissues to study the virus's lifecycle and its impact on cancer development. By creating these tools, researchers aim to overcome existing technical challenges that hinder progress in this field. The study will also explore how different variants of HPV16 may affect cancer risk and progression.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better understanding and potentially new treatments for HPV-related oropharyngeal cancers.

How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in studying HPV-related cancers, but this specific approach using primary tonsil-derived cells is relatively novel.

Where this research is happening

  • University of Arizona
    Tucson, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Van Doorslaer, Koenraad — University of Arizona
  • Study coordinator: Van Doorslaer, Koenraad

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.