This proposal aims to improve the translational and community-based HPV-associated cancer research, education, and training at Howard University through collaborative projects and an effective long-term partnership with Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center. Human papillomavirus (HPV) accounts for 5.2% of cancer cases worldwide. Several strains of HPV cause a variety of devastating reproductive and oropharyngeal cancers. In the United States, about 26,700 cases of HPV-associated cancers are diagnosed annually. African American women suffer from a significantly higher incidence rate of HPV-associated cervical, vaginal, and anal cancers compared to their Caucasian counterparts. Additionally, HPV-16 has been identified in approximately 20-30% of head and neck cancers and roughly 56% of oropharynx and oral cavity cancers. Howard University Medical Institutions have a historically Black student body, and its medical and dental facilities participate in direct service to minority populations. However, Howard University faces significant challenges in cancer research and health disparities efforts. Johns Hopkins is committed to providing mentorship and educational resources in cancer research to improve Howard's capacities. Howard is a leading minority-serving institution, while Johns Hopkins is a well-established NCI-designated Cancer Center. An educational effort that brings together Howard doctors and dentists who focus on minorities and Johns Hopkins researchers who study HPV-related cancers will help to address socioeconomic disparities and barriers to cancer health, health education, and health-related professions. Through a set of collaborative pilot projects that include HPV vaccine development in mice models, epidemiology research in a Washington D.C. community cohort, and an extensive mentoring network between the two universities, this collaboration will significantly enhance career development, education, and competitiveness in seeking funding opportunities for Howard students and educators.
Specific aims will be: 1) to support collaborative cancer research projects between the Howard University Medical Institutions and the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins;2) to provide collaborative training and mentoring programs for promoting Howard medical and dental students and faculty in cancer research, 3) to establish education programs that advance the knowledge of cancer research as it applies to etiology, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of HPV-associated cancer in the context of minority-serving institutions.

Public Health Relevance

Howard University/Johns Hopkins Partnership in HPV-Related Cancer Research. This effective, long-term partnership with Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center features collaborative pilot projects such as HPV vaccine development, epidemiology research in a community cohort, and an extensive mentoring network to improve the translational and community-based cancer health research capabilities of Howard University. Data from the projects will contribute to publications and competitive grant applications for Howard University scientists, and the overall collaboration will help to address socioeconomic disparities and barriers to cancer health, health education, and health-related professions in the Washington D.C./Baltimore metropolitan area.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Exploratory Grants (P20)
Project #
1P20CA192989-01
Application #
8850130
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZCA1-PCRB-C (O1))
Program Officer
Moten, Carmen P
Project Start
2014-09-20
Project End
2018-08-31
Budget Start
2014-09-20
Budget End
2015-08-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2014
Total Cost
$180,604
Indirect Cost
$60,999
Name
Howard University
Department
Type
Schools of Dentistry
DUNS #
056282296
City
Washington
State
DC
Country
United States
Zip Code
20059
Sha, Wei; Zhou, Yanfei; Ling, Zhi-Qiang et al. (2018) Antitumor properties of Salvianolic acid B against triple-negative and hormone receptor-positive breast cancer cells via ceramide-mediated apoptosis. Oncotarget 9:36331-36343
Hou, Wangheng; Armstrong, Najealicka; Obwolo, Lilian Akello et al. (2017) Determination of the Cell Permissiveness Spectrum, Mode of RNA Replication, and RNA-Protein Interaction of Zika Virus. BMC Infect Dis 17:239
Yang, Tao; Li, Shugang; Zhang, Xuming et al. (2015) Resveratrol, sirtuins, and viruses. Rev Med Virol 25:431-45
Hauser, Belinda; Zhao, Yuan; Pang, Xiaowu et al. (2015) Functions of MiRNA-128 on the regulation of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma growth and apoptosis. PLoS One 10:e0116321
Yang, Benjamin; Yang, Andrew; Peng, Shiwen et al. (2015) Co-administration with DNA encoding papillomavirus capsid proteins enhances the antitumor effects generated by therapeutic HPV DNA vaccination. Cell Biosci 5:35