Researcher Spotlight: Christoph Weigel, PhD

THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) is a ubiquitous virus that infects many people across the globe without any serious or immediate symptoms. In certain circumstances, however, such as older age or after organ transplant, EBV can transform blood cells into cancer cells, leading to lymphoma. Identification of EBV-driven lymphoma can have important implications for treatment, but current methods do not reliably detect the virus in lymphoma. “In my project, I will deploy a new technology that specifically reads out molecular features on EBV DNA to classify and distinguish EBV versus non-EBV lymphoma,” explains Dr. Weigel. “This technology will allow physicians to better diagnose and treat EBV-associated blood cancer.”

Dr. Weigel’s interest in EBV-associated lymphoma was sparked during his time as a graduate student at the German Cancer Research Center in Heidelberg, Germany. During this time, he met Dr. Harald zur Hausen, the scientist who uncovered the role of human papillomavirus (HPV) in cervical cancer development. “To me, the story of HPV is a blueprint for the combination of basic, translational, and clinical science,” says Dr. Weigel. “I have made it my mission to apply similar concepts to tumor-causing viruses like EBV. My Lymphoma Scientific Research Mentoring Program (LSRMP) project will hopefully be my starting point, paving the way to better detection, treatment or even prevention of EBV-associated lymphomas.”

Alongside his research goals, Dr. Weigel looks forward to giving back to the lymphoma research community. “I will hopefully also possess the same outstanding mentorship qualities that impressed me so much at the LSRMP workshop,” he says. “For me, being an outstanding mentor myself has become another important career goal.”