Dr. Warren Schmidt, Professor of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, has been awarded a four-year, $625,000 VA Merit grant to study the connections between Hepatitis C virus (HCV), cirrhosis, and liver cancer. HCV is a leading cause of cirrhosis and liver cancer and has been shown to influence telomerase, a cellular enzyme that promotes immortal cellular growth without transforming them into cancer cells. Dr. Schmidt’s lab has previously demonstrated that the HCV protease-helicase complex stimulates telomerase activity and expression.

This grant will also allow Dr. Schmidt and his fellow researchers a better understanding of how to detect and prevent liver cancer sooner and to treat it more effectively. Congratulations!