Role of HPV Integration Structures in Head and Neck Cancer Diversity
Official title: Defining the Role of HPV Integration Structures in HNSCC Molecular Heterogeneity
Funded at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-11323195 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying how HPV-related genetic changes affect head and neck cancers to improve risk prediction and treatment choices for patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $586,705 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DE032699-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11323195 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with HPV-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma or those providing tumor samples for analysis could benefit from the insights generated.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without HPV-associated head and neck cancer or without access to tumor samples may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project focuses on HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer and how viral-host genome interactions shape tumor behavior. Using a novel HPV integration detection method, the team will analyze tumor samples with genomic and transcriptomic data to understand chromatin changes and gene activity near HPV integration sites. The goal is to identify structural patterns that could predict which patients are at higher risk of treatment failure and tailor therapies accordingly. Findings could pave the way for more precise, less toxic treatment strategies for those affected by HPV-related head and neck cancers.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to better risk stratification and more individualized treatments for patients with HPV-positive head and neck cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary analyses with the new HPV integration method have shown higher sensitivity and specificity than existing approaches in pilot data.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Brenner, John Chadwick — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Brenner, John Chadwick
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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.