# Viral Oncogenesis, Latency, and Replication

> **NIH NIH P01** · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · 2024 · $1,936,921

## Abstract

OVERALL
Project Summary Abstract
This program project grant application focuses on three DNA tumor viruses namely human
papillomavirus (HPV), Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) and Kaposi Sarcoma-associated Herpesvirus
(KSHV), to identify the critical mechanisms by which these agents induce cancer and deregulate
cell growth. EBV, HPV and KSHV are linked to multiple cancers in the human population. This
proposal will study how these viruses promote carcinogenesis and investigate overarching
biological principles. To identify the mechanisms responsible for the oncogenic properties of
these viruses, the projects will characterize the basic molecular properties of these viruses as
well as viral genes and proteins. They will investigate how these viruses modulate cellular
processes including cell signaling pathways, epigenetic networks, and immune evasion.
Furthermore, the potential therapeutic benefits of targeting these viruses will be tested in cell
culture assays and animal models.
This application consists of four projects and three cores. Project 1 will investigate the
modulation of tumorigenesis by extracellular vesicles secreted from tumor virus-infected cells.
Project 2 will investigate the role of long non-coding RNAs and R-loops in the lifecycle of
oncogenic viruses. Project 3 will investigate how gammaherpesviruses evade host immune
signaling pathways and the impact of host factors on viral lifecycles. Project 4 will examine the
function of EBV-encoded lncRNAs and how EBV infection impacts tumorigenesis. Core A
provides administrative support for the overall program. Core B provides state-of-the-art
genomics and viral and cellular gene profiling, as well as biostatistics support for all the projects
in this application, and Core C provides electron microscopy and mass photometry for structure
studies.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10852899
- **Project number:** 5P01CA019014-44
- **Recipient organization:** UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL
- **Principal Investigator:** BLOSSOM A DAMANIA
- **Activity code:** P01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $1,936,921
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1997-05-01 → 2027-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10852899

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10852899, Viral Oncogenesis, Latency, and Replication (5P01CA019014-44). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10852899. Licensed CC0.

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