Finding where the AIDS-related Kaposi sarcoma virus hides in the body
Official title: Project 3
Funded at Lsu Health Sciences Center · NIH-11623227 · Data updated 2026-11-12
AIDS-related Kaposi sarcoma is a common cancer among people with HIV in Africa, and this project aims to locate hidden reservoirs of the KS-associated herpesvirus throughout the body.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Lsu Health Sciences Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Orleans, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $55,736 |
| NIH project number | 3U54CA277846-04S2 |
| Project ID | NIH-11623227 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are adults with HIV/AIDS (AIDS-associated KS or end-stage KS risk) who have or are suspected to have KSHV infection and who may become organ-donor cohorts for autopsy-based tissue sampling.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without KS risk or without KSHV infection may contribute less directly to the study outcomes.
What this research studies
This grant uses recently developed full-body autopsy methods in sub-Saharan Africa to map where the KS-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) and its transformed cells live in the body. By sampling multiple tissues from people who are seropositive for KSHV, researchers hope to identify reservoirs that persist despite treatment. The study builds on prior work showing KSHV can be found in brain tissue and seeks to understand how HIV-1 infection and KS affect reservoir locations. The findings could inform future therapies to target these reservoirs and prevent KS recurrence.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to targeted strategies to prevent KS recurrence and improve outcomes for people with HIV who are at risk for AIDS-related malignancies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work showed KSHV presence in brain tissue; this project extends that to a full-body assessment to identify reservoirs.
Where this research is happening
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Lsu Health Sciences Center
New Orleans, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Julius, Peter Davies — Lsu Health Sciences Center
- Study coordinator: Julius, Peter Davies
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.