CURRENT RESEARCH INTERESTS

Dr. Kiviat's research focuses on studies of HIV-1, HIV-2, and HPV related cancers, as well as breast cancer, especially in Africa. In addition, she directs projects examining issues related to cervical cancer control both in developing countries and in the U.S., as well as studies exploring management of women with abnormal pap smears in this country. She directs several studies examining risk factors for HIV-1 and HIV-2 genital tract shedding in women and men. In addition, over the last 5 years Dr. Kiviat has been involved in several projects examining the development of biomarkers for detection of cervical, heart, and ovarian cancer. Currently there are ongoing NIH-funded projects in Seattle and Senegal, West Africa. 

In both African and Seattle we are examining the relationship between HIV, specific types of HPV, immunosuppression, and risk of cervical and anal cancer. In West Africa, in collaboration with Dr. Julie McElrath's lab at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, we are using ELISPOT assays to describe and contrast the immune response to HIV-1 and HIV-2 in order to understand why humans are able to control HIV-2 but not HIV-1. We have also been following prostitutes and non-prostitutes to examine the relationship between HIV-1, HIV-2, specific HPV types, and specific HPV 16 variants, immuno-suppression, and development of neoplasia. We recently received funding for a study that will be done in conjunction with Dr. McDougall at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center that will examine the molecular characteristics of cancers arising in women with and without HIV infection. Other ongoing projects in Senegal include a study examining and contrasting factors associated with genital tract virus shedding among those with HIV 1 and HIV 2.

We have several studies examining new approaches to screening for cervical cancer and management of women with ASCUS and LGSIL. Various screening approaches are being examined, including the use of new assays for HPV DNA and recently developed technologies for improving cytology-based cervical cancer control. We have recently started several studies in which we are using microarrays to identify markers for detection and treatment of cervical and breast cancer.

PUBLICATIONS

Hawes SE,Critchlow CW, Faye Niang MA,3 Diouf MB, Diop A, Touré P,Kasse AA, Dembele B, Sow PS, Coll-Seck AM, Kuypers JM, Kiviat NB. Increased risk of high-grade cervical squamous intraepithelial lesions and invasive cervical cancer among African women with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and 2 infections. J Infect Dis 188, 2003. 

Gottlieb GS, Sow PS, Hawes SE, Ndoye I, Redman M, Coll-Seck AM, Faye-Niang MA, Diop A, Kuypers JM, Critchlow CW, Respess R, Mullins JI, Kiviat NB. Equal plasma viral loads predict a similar rate of CD4+ T cell decline in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1- and HIV-2-infected individuals from Senegal, West Africa. J Infect Dis 185:905-14, 2002.

Hawes SE, Kiviat NB. Are genital infections and inflammation cofactors in the pathogenesis of invasive cervical cancer? J Natl Cancer Inst 94:1592-3, 2002.

Lampinen TM, Critchlow CW, Kuypers JM, Hurt CS, Nelson PJ, Hawes SE, Coombs RW, Holmes KK, Kiviat NB. Association of antiretroviral therapy 
with detection of HIV-1 RNA and DNA in the anorectal mucosa of homosexual men. AIDS 14:F69-75, 2000.