Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation (ELIDEK) Funding of project evaluated as class A by the European Research Council
The research project entitled “Functionality and Activity of Human Endogenous Retrovirus K” which was granted an A score by the European Research Council (ERC) will be funded by the Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation (ELIDEK) under the call for proposals “Aen Aristevein – Theodoros Papazoglou”. This call provides bridge-funding for project proposals graded “A” (highest score) by the ERC on account of their scientific merit, which were not funded due to budget limitations. Dr. Gkikas Magiorkinis, Assistant Professor of Hygiene and Epidemiology, is the Primary Investigator of the project.
The study will last two years and will provide insights on the possible proliferation of HERV-K HML-2 in humans. Preliminary evidence suggests that HERV-K HML-2 may be the third human Retrovirus, after Human T-Lymphotropic Virus (HTLV) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), with a proliferation potential in modern humans. The clinical implications of this work are relevant to securing the safety of advanced stem-cell treatments currently under development.
