Cancer Virology Program

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Abstract: Cancer Virology (CV) Viruses are the cause of approximately 15% of human cancers. While significant advancements have been made in the last few decades, there is no vaccine or specific targeted therapy for numerous cancer viruses and their associated malignancies. The mission of the Cancer Virology (CV) Program, which is closely aligned with that of Hillman Cancer Center (HCC), is to prevent and cure viral and nonviral cancer by acquiring new knowledge of viral infection. CV members will achieve this goal by identifying new cancer pathways targeted by cancer viruses (Aim 1); identifying novel therapeutic targets/agents for viral cancer and developing new anticancer virus-based therapeutics (Aim 2); identifying novel biomarkers for viral cancers (Aim 3); and discovering new cancer-causing viruses (Aim 4). To facilitate the execution of these specific aims, CV has developed tangible goals, which are to establish a productive, highly collaborative group of investigators devoted to these aims, provide unique intellectual resources to HCC in the area of cancer virology, and build an exceptional research program with multiple generations of scientists studying cancer viruses. As an integral program of HCC, CV takes advantage of the exceptional academic environment and rich resources of HCC. CV achieves these goals by providing fertile ground for fundamental cancer research using cancer viruses and viral cancers as model systems, active recruitment of investigators in cancer virology, support for internal and external interactions and collaborations, for program symposiums, for internal and external seminars and retreats and for pilot project research in cancer virology, stimulation of research in the catchment area, and for mentoring of junior investigators and trainees. Under the leadership of Shou-Jiang (SJ) Gao, PhD, CV has 27 members representing 9 departments and 3 schools within the University of Pittsburgh. CV members conduct cancer-focused research supported by $8.1M in total annual direct funding of which $2.9M is NCI funding, $5.0M is other peer-reviewed and $0.2M is non-peer-reviewed. From 2015-August 2019, CV members published 428 cancer-related publications representing 9% intra-programmatic, 19% inter- programmatic, and 65% inter-institutional collaborations. CV is internationally recognized as a leading hub for the discovery and characterization of new human cancer viruses. The high research productivity of the program members in the current funding cycle reflects the success of CV in meeting these goals, which will be realized and augmented in the next funding cycle.