Understanding how the Epstein-Barr virus toggles on and off in cancer cells
Official title: Regulation of the Epstein-Barr Virus Lytic Switch
Funded at Brigham and Women's Hospital · NIH-11448550 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project studies how EBV decides to become active in cancer cells and how this could lead to new treatments for EBV-related cancers in people with AIDS.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | July 6, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $609,040 |
| NIH project number | 2R01AI164709-06A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11448550 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with EBV-associated lymphomas or HIV/AIDS-related cancers could be candidates for future therapeutic strategies arising from this work.
✕Less likely to help
This basic science project may not directly benefit patients during the initial discovery phase, but could inform future therapies.
What this research studies
Researchers are exploring how EBV stays latent or becomes active in tumor cells, with a focus on how certain human genes and epigenetic factors influence the viral lytic switch. They use genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 screens in human cells to identify host factors that control the switch and test how inhibiting these factors can reactivate the virus in tumors. The goal is to map pathways that could be targeted to make cancer cells more vulnerable to antiviral therapies. The work involves collaboration with human tumor models and relevance to AIDS-associated lymphomas where EBV plays a key role.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could reveal new targets to drive EBV out of latency in lymphoma cells, potentially enabling more effective treatments for EBV-related cancers.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies using CRISPR screens have identified host factors that control EBV lytic activation, supporting a plausible path to targeted therapies.
Where this research is happening
-
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gewurz, Benjamin Elison — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Gewurz, Benjamin Elison
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.