Does Epstein-Barr virus cause conjunctival (eye) cancer in people with HIV in Zimbabwe?
Official title: Project 2: Novel investigation of Epstein-Barr virus as a potential cause of conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma among people living with HIV in Zimbabwe
Funded at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Ctr & Res Inst · NIH-11414781 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks for a link between the Epstein-Barr virus and conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma in people living with HIV in Zimbabwe.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Ctr & Res Inst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tampa, United States) |
| Project start | August 3, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $97,124 |
| NIH project number | 3U54CA277834-03S2 |
| Project ID | NIH-11414781 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are people living with HIV in Zimbabwe who have conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma or who can provide clinical samples and medical history for comparison.
✕Less likely to help
People without HIV, those with unrelated eye conditions, or those unable to access participating clinics in Zimbabwe are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
What this research studies
If you join, researchers will compare tumor tissue and blood samples from about 800 people living with HIV in Zimbabwe, including people with conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma and comparison participants. They will test the eye tumors and blood for signs of Epstein-Barr virus and measure immune markers that might let the virus grow. Doctors will collect clinical information, photos, and samples from the eye lesions while lab scientists run molecular tests to detect viral DNA and activity. The team will use these findings to see whether EBV could be a cause and whether that could lead to ways to find the cancer earlier or prevent it.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify a viral cause of this eye cancer and point toward screening or prevention strategies that reduce vision loss.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies mainly examined cutaneous HPV and did not find a causal link, while the EBV hypothesis for conjunctival cancer is relatively new with only preliminary supporting evidence.
Where this research is happening
-
H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Ctr & Res Inst
Tampa, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Borok, Margaret Ziona — H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Ctr & Res Inst
- Study coordinator: Borok, Margaret Ziona
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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.