Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The University of Arizona received a $284,714 Project Grant from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) under the Oral Diseases and Disorders Research program (CFDA 93.121), awarded July 8, 2026, with completion targeted for July 7, 2028. This research initiative will deliver genomic analysis and identification of therapeutic targets for human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated oral cancers, specifically oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). The project will employ gene co-expression network analysis methods to characterize long non-coding RNA (lncRNA)-mediated regulatory networks and identify hub lncRNAs that distinguish HPV16-driven cervical cancers from OPSCC, with particular focus on differences between episomal and integrated viral genome states in head and neck tumors.

The research deliverables will include comparative analysis of publicly available TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas) datasets using weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to identify lncRNA-associated regulatory modules, validation studies in secondary datasets, identification of lncRNAs associated with HPV16 integration status in OPSCC samples, and experimental validation using clinical samples and cell culture models. These outputs are intended to elucidate lncRNA-mediated regulatory mechanisms in HPV-associated cancers and establish a foundation for precision intervention strategies in head and neck cancer treatment.