# Research Project 1 Defining oncogenic signaling networks in AIDS-associated viral cancers as targets of chemoprevention and treatment

> **NIH NIH U54** · UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF MEDICINE · 2021 · $21,894

## Abstract

Research Project 1 Summary
HIV infected individuals have heightened cancer risk. Particularly for those caused by human oncogenic viruses
such as EBV, HPV and KSHV. AIDS Malignancies are a sanitary problem for Latin American Countries as
Argentina, even in the post HAART era. There is scant information regarding cancer among HIV-infected
individuals in Argentina. Moreover, translational research in AIDS malignancies is an area traditionally neglected
where most Argentinean clinicians and oncologists rarely collaborate. The recent convergence of efforts of Dr.
Mesri laboratory at University of Miami Miller School of Medicine's Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center
(UMMSM/SCCC), Dr.Omar Coso at IFIBYNE – UBA – CONICET and Dr. Pedro Cahn from Fundación Huésped
the most prestigious ONG devoted to AIDS studies, diagnosis and prevention have converged in this consortium
proposal under the U54 format, including other Senior Prestigious Researchers and Junior Scientists in every
Consortium Component. Project 1 aims to “Define oncogenic signaling networks in AIDS-associated viral
cancers as targets of chemoprevention and treatment.” The proposal will make use a variety of strategies at the
molecular, cellular level and even through animal models to identify molecules (mainly proteins and miRNAs)
implicated in the onset of viral cancers and investigate its relationship with HIV infection, using different
approaches and targeting different molecules. Putative Molecules identified as responsible for the onset of
cancer by laboratory approaches will be studied in Human Samples with the aid of Project 2. Relationship with
the OGB Core will allow enhancement of the research capabilities a significant step further by using unbiased
genomic analysis, as well as IHC techniques, to obtain high throughput data that will validate data obtained in
the laboratory and prompt new questions into the bench making possible to address research questions that
were unimaginable only a few years back. Mentoring is of paramount importance to this project. Dr Coso will
lead the studies in KS related molecular signaling working as a PI to Project 1. On the other hand and combining
with his role in the CE Core, he will supervise Dr Ana Raimondi, exploring the possibility of targeting mTORC1
in HPV models. Dr. Coso will also team with his former trainee Dr Julian Naipauer, who has developed a new
cell and animal model of KSHV oncogenesis, conducting experiments in the laboratory and mentoring for the
future development of his scientific career as a viral oncologist upon return to Argentina.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10246318
- **Project number:** 5U54CA221208-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
- **Principal Investigator:** Omar Adrian Coso
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $21,894
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-09-20 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10246318

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10246318, Research Project 1 Defining oncogenic signaling networks in AIDS-associated viral cancers as targets of chemoprevention and treatment (5U54CA221208-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10246318. Licensed CC0.

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