The Center of Excellence in HIV/AIDS & Cancer Virology, CCR

The Center of Excellence in HIV/AIDS & Cancer Virology, CCR Despite significant advances in treatment, the number of newly diagnosed HIV-infected adults and children rose globally from ~3.9 million in 2004 to 4.3 million in 2006, and the number of deaths from ~2.7 million to 2.9 million over the same period. Moreover, the initial success of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in reducing viral burden is now threatened by the rapid emergence of drug-resistant virus.

Approximately one of every five human cancers is caused by infectious agents with an estimate of 1.9 million cases per year worldwide. Of these cancers, approximately 70% are caused by viruses such as human papillomavirus, hepatitis virus types B and C, Epstein-Barr virus, human herpesvirus 8, and human T cell leukemia/lymphoma virus. Recent evidence also suggests that the increased life expectancy of HIV-infected individuals on HAART may enhance the risk of developing both AIDS-defining and non-defining cancers.

The mission of the Center of Excellence in HIV/AIDS and Cancer Virology (CEHCV) is to facilitate and rapidly communicate advances in the discovery, development and delivery of antiviral and immunologic approaches for the prevention and treatment of HIV infection, AIDS-related malignancies and cancer-associated viral diseases.

Toward this end, NCI research on AIDS, HIV and HTLV has resulted in 488 new invention reports, 1043 patents, and 246 licenses, including didanosine (Videx), ddI generics, ddC (Hivid), and darunavir (Prestiva).

To learn more about the CEHCV view our brochure.

Special Announcements

Symposium Announcement The Center for Cancer Research and the Chemistry and Structural Biology Faculty invite you to attend a chemical biology symposium, entitled "Chemical Insights into Biological Processes", on August 15-16, 2008, in Frederick, Maryland. This two day event will focus on emerging and state-of-the-art chemistry approaches to difficult biological problems, with special emphasis on cancer and HIV/AIDS. Please note that those wishing to present a poster should plan to submit an abstract no later than July 1.

Registration and additional information can be found at http://www.ncifcrf.gov/events/ccrcbs/2008/

Invited speakers include:

Gregory L. Verdine, Ph.D.
Harvard University

Carolyn R. Bertozzi, Ph.D.
University of California, Berkeley

Benjamin F. Cravatt III, Ph.D.
Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, Scripps

Jon Clardy, Ph.D.
Harvard Medical School

Peter G. Schultz, Ph.D.
Scripps Research Institute

Angela Belcher, Ph.D.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

James R. Heath, Ph.D.
California Institute of Technology

Laura L. Kiessling, Ph.D.
University of Wisconsin-Madison

Lawrence J. Marnett, Ph.D.
Vanderbilt Institute of Chemical Biology

Milan Mrksich, Ph.D.
University of Chicago

Alanna Schepartz, Ph.D.
Yale University

Michael E. Jung, Ph.D.
University of California, Los Angeles

Cynthia J. Burrows, Ph.D.
University of Utah

Moungi G. Bawendi, Ph.D.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

2008 NIH Intramural-to-India Program: Call for Proposals For FY 2008, the NIH Intramural-to-India Program is soliciting collaborative research projects in the field of HIV/AIDS prevention. Proposals that include a short-term scientist exchange are encouraged. Each proposal can request support for a maximum of $100,000 per year for a maximum of two years. We anticipate that approximately 10 awards will be supported. For further information, please view the proposal summary and/or contact Dr. Geraldina Dominguez at domingug@mail.nih.gov.