EBV reactivation and how it changes human cells in HIV-related cancers
Official title: EBV reactivation causes widespread host de novo promoter transcription and transcriptional interference
Funded at Wayne State University · NIH-11577768 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This NIH grant looks at how Epstein-Barr virus reactivation affects human cells and may contribute to cancers in people with HIV/AIDS.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wayne State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Detroit, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $431,770 |
| NIH project number | 7R01CA272142-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11577768 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with HIV/AIDS who have EBV-associated cancers or are at risk for EBV-related lymphomas.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without HIV/AIDS or without EBV-associated conditions may not directly benefit from this basic research.
What this research studies
The project studies how EBV switches from a dormant state to active replication and how this affects host cell transcription in people with HIV/AIDS. Researchers will examine how viral activity alters host gene expression and the cell’s transcription machinery, potentially driving cancer development. The work combines molecular biology with insights from HIV-associated lymphomas to understand virus-host interactions that could inform future therapies. The findings could identify new targets to block viral reactivation or its harmful effects in patients with AIDS-related cancers.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding EBV-driven changes could lead to new strategies to prevent or treat AIDS-related cancers.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work shows EBV activity is linked to cancer in HIV populations, and this study builds on known host-virus interactions with potential for novel insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Wayne State University
Detroit, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Flemington, Erik K — Wayne State University
- Study coordinator: Flemington, Erik K
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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.