The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has awarded a two-year R03 grant, effective July 1, 2026, with a total project budget of $156,601, to support Dr. Liudi Tang’s research, in collaboration with Dr. Qiong Zhao, on hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA integration.

HBV DNA integration into the chromosomes of infected hepatocytes is not required for viral replication but accumulates over time, contributes to cancer-promoting genetic changes, and enables continued production of viral antigens even when viral replication is suppressed. As a result, HBV integration represents a major obstacle to curing chronic hepatitis B and a key driver of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). To better understand how HBV integration can be prevented by antiviral therapies, Dr. Tang and Dr. Zhao will develop a novel quantitative assay to measure viral integration and evaluate the effects of antiviral drugs that target different stages of the HBV life cycle on HBV DNA integration. The findings will help identify treatment strategies that more effectively reduce HBV integration and ultimately decrease the risk of liver cancer and facilitate the functional cure of chronic hepatitis B.