Project Grant R01CA287486

The federal Project Grant award R01CA287486, totaling $446,728.00, was provided by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) under the Cancer Biology Research program (CFDA 93.396). The grant supports research at Childrens Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati, Ohio to investigate viral and host cell factors that contribute to the development of juvenile-onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (JORRP), a common but severe childhood disease caused by low-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infections. The research aims to develop new biomarkers and therapeutic targets by leveraging advanced 2D and 3D epithelial cell models derived from patient samples. Specifically, the project will examine whether and how the HPV6 E6/E7 and E5 viral proteins induce key disease-associated cell subpopulations and sustain JORRP phenotypes. This work is expected to provide critical insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying JORRP pathogenesis and identify promising avenues for improving clinical outcomes for affected children.