# Laboratory Core

> **NIH NIH U54** · UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA LINCOLN · 2021 · $2,552

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Sub-Saharan Africans living with HIV infection experience enhanced susceptibility to malignancies even when
the individuals are on anti-retroviral therapy (ART) and have fully suppressed HIV-1 viral replication in the
peripheral blood. Understanding and reducing the bases of this enhanced cancer risk is a critical next step to
improve the quality of life and reduce the economic burden of health management in this region devastated by
the AIDS epidemic. In Africa, cancers largely result from infectious etiologies. Squamous cell neoplasias of the
head and neck, and particularly those of the eye, are associated with HIV-1 infection in Africa and may result
from co-infection with human papilloma viruses (HPV). Likewise, Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS), the most common
HIV-associated malignancy in Zambian men and the third leading HIV-associated malignancy in Zambian
women, is caused by Kaposi’s Sarcoma Herpesvirus (KSHV)/Human Herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8). Thus, high
incidence cancers caused by KSHV, and potentially by HPV, are occurring at higher frequencies in HIV-1 co-
infected individuals who appear to be controlling HIV-1 disease through ART. In order to more effectively treat
these malignancies, researchers need to understand why this is occurring. The goal of the Zambian AIDS
Malignancies Diagnosis and Pathogenesis Program (ZAMDAPP)’s Lab Core is to provide integrated molecular,
immunological, and diagnostic support in parallel with ZAMDAPP’s Biostatistics and Epidemiology Core for the
consortium-funded research projects and training initiatives, and to further develop capacity and infrastructure
to conduct cancer research in Zambia. To accomplish this goal, the core will 1) establish and transfer
molecular procedures in support of early KS diagnosis and HPV detection; 2) develop an effective specimen
archive, coupled with computerized information storage, to facilitate sharing exchange and analyses pipelines
for study data; and 3) provide or facilitate training opportunities to increase essential research skills and
capacities for Zambians with interests in HIV-associated malignancy research. The core will be staffed by
experienced multidisciplinary basic scientists and clinical lab scientists and will have two hubs of operation:
one at the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia and one in the United States at the University of
Nebraska-Lincoln.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10242676
- **Project number:** 5U54CA221204-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA LINCOLN
- **Principal Investigator:** John T. West
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $2,552
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-09-15 → 2021-10-15

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10242676

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10242676, Laboratory Core (5U54CA221204-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10242676. Licensed CC0.

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