Understanding how HPV causes cancer and how our cells respond
Renewal: HPV and the DNA Damage Response
['FUNDING_R01'] · NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY · NIH-11121077
This research explores how high-risk HPV leads to cancers like cervical and anal cancer by studying how the virus interacts with our body's natural cell repair systems.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (CHICAGO, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11121077 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Human papillomaviruses (HPV) are known to cause cervical, anal, and oral cancers, and while vaccines can prevent infection, effective treatments for existing HPV lesions are still needed. This project aims to understand the detailed steps of how high-risk HPV grows and spreads within cells, hoping to find new ways to stop it. We are looking closely at how HPV takes advantage of our body's natural DNA repair systems, specifically the ATM and ATR pathways, to multiply its genetic material. The team has identified key proteins in these pathways that are crucial for the HPV life cycle and has observed how HPV causes DNA damage in both viral and cellular DNA. By understanding these processes, we hope to uncover new targets for developing treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with existing high-risk HPV infections or HPV-related cancers could potentially benefit from future treatments developed from this foundational understanding.
Not a fit: Patients without high-risk HPV infections or related cancers would not directly benefit from this specific foundational research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to the development of new therapeutic treatments for existing HPV lesions and related cancers.
How similar studies have performed: This is a renewal grant, indicating prior success in understanding how HPV interacts with cellular DNA damage response pathways, and it builds upon existing knowledge in the field.
Where this research is happening
CHICAGO, UNITED STATES
- NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY — CHICAGO, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: LAIMINS, LAIMONIS A. — NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: LAIMINS, LAIMONIS A.
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 below.
Conditions: Ataxia Telangiectasia Syndrome