Developing new treatments targeting a virus linked to certain cancers
Official title: Targeting EBV's Deubiquitinating Activity for Therapy
Funded at New York Medical College · NIH-11140533 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking for new medicines that can help people with illnesses caused by the Epstein-Barr Virus, like certain cancers and multiple sclerosis, by blocking a specific virus protein that makes these diseases worse.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York Medical College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Valhalla, United States) |
| Project start | July 17, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $206,250 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AI180281-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11140533 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals diagnosed with EBV-related conditions such as Burkitt's lymphoma or those at risk of developing EBV-associated diseases.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have EBV-related illnesses or those with other unrelated health conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on the Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), which is associated with various cancers and diseases, including Burkitt's lymphoma and multiple sclerosis. The team aims to discover small molecule inhibitors that can block a specific protein (BPLF1) produced by the virus, which plays a role in the disease process. By using high throughput screening methods, they will identify potential drug candidates that could lead to effective therapies for patients suffering from EBV-related illnesses. This work is crucial as there are currently no targeted treatments available for these conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to the development of targeted therapies for patients with EBV-related cancers and diseases.
How similar studies have gone: While targeting viral proteins for therapy is a common approach, this specific focus on BPLF1 and its deubiquitinating activity is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested in prior studies.
Where this research is happening
-
New York Medical College
Valhalla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Whitehurst, Christopher Benton — New York Medical College
- Study coordinator: Whitehurst, Christopher Benton
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Maternal donor immune cells plus standard antiviral therapy for newborn CMV infection
A clinical trial tests whether giving newborns with congenital CMV infection maternal donor-derived immune cells along with valganciclovir helps the baby’s immune system fight CMV better than valganciclovir alone.
-
Modeling Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome to Improve Neurobehavioral Outcomes
A research project at New York Medical College is studying Lennox-Gastaut syndrome to help reduce seizures and improve thinking and behavior in affected people.
-
Regulation of kidney potassium handling by Kir4.1 and Kir5.1
This grant studies how kidney channels Kir4.1 and Kir5.1 influence potassium balance and how this affects heart and muscle health.
-
Tobacco Mosaic Virus as an intranasal vaccine platform against Pseudomonas infections
A short, patient-friendly vaccine idea using a plant virus to help protect people at risk from Pseudomonas infections, especially in the lungs and after burns.
-
Targeted deep brain stimulation to reduce infantile epilepsy spasms
This project will see if tiny electrical pulses delivered to specific deep brain areas can reduce severe infantile spasms, first in animal models to help design future treatments for babies.
-
How GPR75 affects obesity-linked heart and metabolism problems
This project looks at whether targeting the protein GPR75 could help prevent heart and metabolism problems in people with obesity.
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.