How viruses cause cancer: Research funding from the Wilhelm Sander Foundation

The Wilhelm Sander Foundation is supporting a research project led by Prof. Thomas Dobner & Dr. Wing-Hang Ip (LIV Research Department Virus Transformation) with a grant of over 200,000 euros. The aim of the project is to decipher how viral oncoproteins contribute to the development of cancer.

According to the World Health Organization, human tumor viruses are responsible for around 15% of cancers worldwide. The project funded by the foundation focuses on the adenovirus oncoproteins E1A and E1B-55K, which regulate cellular transcription factors and thus contribute to the transformation of cells. In particular, the project is investigating how E1B-55K interacts with the host's transcription machinery and what role cancer-associated signaling pathways play in this process.

Using state-of-the-art methods such as ChIP-seq and human stem cells, the researchers hope to find out, among other things, how the TEAD transcription factors are influenced by E1B-55K. The results could not only deepen our understanding of adenovirus-mediated cell transformation, but could also be transferable to other viral oncoproteins.

Since it was established in 1973, the Wilhelm Sander Foundation has been funding outstanding medical research projects, particularly in the fight against cancer, and has provided over 220 million euros to date. With its support, it enables important advances in basic research that can contribute to the development of new therapies in the long term.