Understanding HIV and HPV-linked throat cancer with single-cell analysis and new mouse models
Official title: Dissecting Tumor-Immune Interactions in HIV-HPV Co-Infection-Associated Oropharyngeal Cancer using Single Cell Sequencing and Novel Mouse Models
Funded at Albert Einstein College of Medicine · NIH-11350952 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant explores how HIV and HPV together affect immune cells in HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer, using single-cell sequencing and innovative mouse models to guide better prevention and treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Albert Einstein College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bronx, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $570,112 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA291607-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11350952 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with HPV-positive OPSCC, including people living with HIV/AIDS, who may benefit from improved immune-targeted therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without OPSCC or without HPV infection may not directly benefit from this research.
What this research studies
Researchers will study how HIV infection changes the immune environment, especially CD8+ T cells, in HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer. They will use single-cell sequencing to map immune cells and identify exhaustion patterns, including a potential HPV integration in PD-L1. The project combines advanced cell analysis with HIV mouse models to understand how co-infection shapes tumor immunity. Findings could inform new immunotherapies and diagnostic approaches for people living with HIV who are at risk for OPSCC.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to more effective immunotherapies and personalized care for people with HIV who develop HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary single-cell studies have revealed HPV-related immune exhaustion patterns, supporting potential for actionable insights in OPSCC.
Where this research is happening
-
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Bronx, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yin, Shanye — Albert Einstein College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Yin, Shanye
Related research
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Optimizing HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer treatment by selecting patients and reducing therapy intensity
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-
Biomarker-based screening to find HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer early
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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.