Transcription and Replication of Cancer-Causing Viruses in Low Oxygen
Official title: Transcription and Replication of Oncogenic Viruses in Hypoxia
Funded at University of Pennsylvania · NIH-11413504 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant explores how cancer-causing viruses behave and copy themselves when oxygen is scarce, aiming to understand their role in human 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) | $595,501 |
| NIH project number | 5P01CA281867-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11413504 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with cancers linked to MCPyV, EBV, or KSHV, especially those with tumors where hypoxia is a factor, may benefit from future targeted therapies arising from this research.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without virus-associated cancers or without hypoxic tumors may see limited direct benefit from this basic research.
What this research studies
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania will study how key oncogenic viruses, like MCPyV, EBV, and KSHV, change their transcription and replication in hypoxic conditions. The project brings together four major research teams to uncover the molecular mechanisms behind viral-driven cancer development in low-oxygen environments. By examining viral antigens and the associated cellular metabolism, the work seeks to identify potential points to intervene in virus-associated cancers. The grant funds collaborative experiments, data generation, and integration across labs to reveal hypoxia-dependent steps in viral oncogenesis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: A deeper understanding of how hypoxia promotes virus-driven cancers could lead to new therapeutic targets for virus-associated cancers.
How similar studies have gone: Past studies have linked these viruses to cancer, but the role of hypoxia in their transcription and replication is less understood, making this a novel but plausible next step.
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.