EBV infection and lymphomagenesis
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Epstein-Barr virus infection and lymphomagenesis
IRAS ID
109366
Contact name
Andrew I Bell
Contact email
Research summary
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a common herpes virus that infects the vast majority of people worldwide. In most cases, the virus is then carried for life with no ill effects. However this same virus is also linked to the development of several specific types of cancer that arise in a small fraction of infected people. Understanding the normal biology of EBV and studying the virus’s role in the development of certain human cancers is important if ultimately we are to design better therapies for EBV-associated malignancies.
This research project focuses on two main areas of EBV biology. First, we wish to study how EBV establishes a persistent infection in healthy individuals. In the second, we seek to gain a better understanding of how this potentially harmful virus contributes to the pathogenesis of certain diseases. We plan to examine these questions by analysing blood and tissue samples collected from healthy donors and patients with EBV associated malignancies.
It should be stressed that this is not a clinical trial or interventional study. The results will have no direct impact on the clinical management of patients but may provide opportunities for improving the treatment of patients with EBV-associated malignancies in the future.
REC name
West Midlands - Black Country Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/WM/0001
Date of REC Opinion
9 Jan 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion