Molecular Oncogenesis Program Development

Project Description Narrative:

This project will support the development of a program at MCW focused on molecular oncogenesis—in particular, the study of how viruses contribute to the development of cancer. This is an area of significant importance to public health, since viruses are known to be the direct cause of a variety of human cancers, such as cervical cancer and certain lymphomas, and are now thought to contribute to the development of a broader array of cancers.

In Wisconsin and elsewhere, screening tests such as the PAP smear improve early detection and treatment resulting in lower mortality rates. However, the real breakthrough came with the development of a vaccine that attaches the virus, HPV, that causes the majority of cervical cancers. Viruses may play a role in the development of approximately 20% of all cancers worldwide, and virus-associated cancers represent a majority of liver and cervical malignancies. The recruitment supported by this project will help drive research on the pathobiology of virus-associated cancers, specifically virus-host cell interactions that contribute to tumorigenesis.