KSHV virus behavior in low-oxygen conditions
Official title: Project 1: KSHV reprograms replication and metabolic activities in hypoxia
Funded at University of Pennsylvania · NIH-11413529 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research will study how the Kaposi’s sarcoma–associated herpesvirus (KSHV) and infected cells behave and replicate when oxygen levels are very low, which is common in certain cancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $85,073 |
| NIH project number | 5P01CA281867-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11413529 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with KSHV-associated cancers or related herpesvirus-driven conditions may benefit from future therapies informed by this research.
✕Less likely to help
There is no direct patient involvement in this grant; benefits to patients would come from later translation of findings.
What this research studies
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania will investigate how hypoxic (low-oxygen) environments affect both the virus and the host cells it infects during KSHV-associated cancers. The project will compare replication dynamics of the viral genome and key host replication proteins in hypoxia versus normal oxygen conditions, using 3D cell culture and animal models to better mimic human tumors. By mapping changes in viral gene expression and metabolism under low oxygen, this work aims to uncover mechanisms that support viral persistence and cancer progression. The study builds on prior normoxia studies to deepen understanding of how hypoxia alters viral latency and reactivation, with potential implications for new therapeutic strategies. The team will conduct a series of aims focused on replication protein changes, viral antigen regulation, and metabolic adaptations in hypoxic infected cells.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding how hypoxia drives KSHV replication could lead to targeted therapies that disrupt viral persistence in KSHV-associated cancers.
How similar studies have gone: Similar studies in other herpesviruses under hypoxia have revealed altered replication dynamics, but this project addresses KSHV specifically in human-relevant systems.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Robertson, Erle S — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Robertson, Erle S
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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.