Mentors

Johannes Czernin, M.D.
Sven de Vos, M.D.

Research Interests:

My current research interest is in Lymphoma, particularly in association with infection by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). EBV is associated with Burkitt's lymphoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, Hodgkin's disease an lymphoproliferative diseases in immunodeficient patients. EBV has two different life cycles: the productive "lytic" and the non-productive "latent" cycle and most EBV⁺ lymphomas are infected with latent EBV. I have joined Dr. Sven de Vos's lab and will be evaluating the effects of Bortezomib, proteasome inhibitor, shown to induce this switch in EBV cycle. Project involves testing the efficacy of combination of Bortezomib and Ganciclovir, anti-EBV agent, in lymphoma-xenograft models in mice, and the conditions for in vivo imaging of viral kinase induction. We will further correlate novel molecular imaging data wit molecular markers for viral reactivation. These results will not only be significant for EBV-positive lymphoma therapy, but also be instrumental for other herpesvirus-associated malignancies.

Private Practice, Hematology/Oncology
Madison, Wisconsin