Defining Key Vulnerable Targets to Prevent KSHV-Related Diseases
Official title: Defining Critical Sites of Vulnerability and Correlates of Protection to Kaposi Sarcoma Associated Herpesvirus to Inform Vaccine Design
Funded at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center · NIH-11411253 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aiming to map the parts of the Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) that antibodies should target to block infection and disease, with samples from people living with HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $767,887 |
| NIH project number | 5U01CA295050-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11411253 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People living with HIV, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, who have or have not developed KS.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without KSHV infection or HIV may not directly benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This project will identify the specific viral targets and antibody parts that are most important for blocking KSHV infection. Researchers will analyze blood samples and immune cells from people with and without KS to understand which antibody responses correlate with protection. They will create recombinant KSHV glycoproteins to dissect which antibodies are truly protective and test these against a small animal model. Monoclonal antibodies will be isolated and studied in detail to map the critical sites of vulnerability on the virus. The goal is to inform vaccine design so a future vaccine could prevent KSHV infection and related cancers in high-risk populations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could guide vaccine development to reduce KS, PEL, and KSHV-MCD among people living with HIV.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown that some antibody responses correlate with protection, but precise targets and mechanisms need clarification.
Where this research is happening
-
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mcguire, Andrew — Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
- Study coordinator: Mcguire, Andrew
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Precision 3D Imaging to Monitor Kaposi Sarcoma (KS) with SkinScan3D
A new portable 3D imaging tool called SkinScan3D will help doctors measure KS skin lesions more accurately and quickly, especially in people living with HIV.
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Precision 3D Imaging to Track Kaposi Sarcoma (KS) with SkinScan3D
A new 3D imaging tool called SkinScan3D helps doctors monitor Kaposi sarcoma lesions more accurately and quickly, especially in settings with high KS burden like East Africa and in U.S. clinics with HIV patients.
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Kaposi Sarcoma care and research in Africa during ART era
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Kaposi Sarcoma in Africa: ART Era Research Network
A collaborative program in Africa and the United States will study Kaposi sarcoma in people living with HIV on ART to improve diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.
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Kaposi Sarcoma in Africa in the ART Era
This grant supports research to improve how Kaposi sarcoma is detected, treated, and understood in people living with HIV in Zambia and Tanzania during ART, with collaboration between African hospitals and a U.S. center.
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Faster detection and connection to care for people with HIV who develop Kaposi sarcoma in East Africa
This project aims to speed up finding people with HIV diagnosed with Kaposi sarcoma in East Africa and help them get linked to care more quickly.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.