Research Programs

VIRAL ONCOLOGY

There is perhaps nothing more efficient than a virus at disrupting cellular pathways.  While scientists have long been aware of the association between cancer and viruses, such as the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and human papilloma virus (HPV), and in more recent years, Cyto-meglavirus (CMV) and Kaposi’s Sarcoma Herpes Virus (KSHV), they are now beginning to decipher the precise role they play in cancer initiation.    Hodgkin’s disease, cervical cancer, head and neck cancers, and AIDS-related malignancies are among the cancers known to be virus driven.  Understanding the interaction between viruses and cells is the basis for developing diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.  In addition, because viruses do their work by infiltrating cell pathways, they provide a unique window into the cellular reprogramming that puts the cancer process in motion.  The program leaders are Drs. Diane Hayward and Richard Roden.

 

Read more about the Herpesvirus Research Program

 

Faculty

• Ambinder, Richard, M.D., Ph.D.
• Desai, Prashant, Ph.D.
• Gravitt, Patti, Ph.D., M.S.
• Hardwick, J. Marie, Ph.D.
• Hayward, Gary, Ph.D.
• Hayward, S. Diane, Ph.D.
• Nicholas, John, Ph.D.
• Pitha-Rowe, Paula, Ph.D.
• Qian, Jiang, Ph.D.
• Ray, Stuart, M.D.
• Roden, Richard, Ph.D.
• Rodriguez, Ronald, M.D., Ph.D.
• Shah, Keerti, Ph.D.
• Shamay, Meir, Ph.D.
• Trimble, Cornelia, M.D.
• Wu, Tzyy-Choou, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H
• Zhu, Heng, Ph.D.