How HPV interacts with our cells' DNA damage system and its effect on cancer
Official title: Interplay between the cellular DNA damage response and the HPV life cycle
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11622604 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how high-risk HPV uses the body’s DNA repair machinery to replicate and potentially drive cancer, with the goal of finding new antiviral and cancer-fighting approaches for people affected by HPV-related diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | May 18, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $22,875 |
| NIH project number | 3R01AI173039-04S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11622604 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with HPV-related cancers or high-risk HPV infections could potentially benefit from advances arising from this research.
✕Less likely to help
People without HPV infection or HPV-related conditions may not directly benefit from this study.
What this research studies
The research investigates how HPV hijacks the cell’s DNA damage response, especially the ATM pathway, to help viral genome replication. By studying proteins like BRCA1, 53BP1, and RNF168, scientists aim to uncover how HPV orchestrates replication during epithelial differentiation. The work combines cellular experiments and molecular biology to map how viral and human proteins interact during infection. The findings could point toward novel antiviral strategies and inform treatments for HPV-related cancers.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to new antiviral strategies and better treatments for HPV-associated cancers.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown HPV interacts with DNA damage responses, with ongoing studies building on that knowledge.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Moody, Cary a — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Moody, Cary a
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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.