Peter M. Howley

Peter M. Howley is the Shattuck Professor of Pathological Anatomy at Harvard Medical School, specializing in molecular virology and carcinogenesis. His research focuses on papillomavirus biology, particularly the roles of E6/E7 oncoproteins in cancer development and their interactions with cellular machinery like UBE3A. He also investigates the pathogenesis of Angelman Syndrome linked to UBE3A mutations and explores viral-host interactions in HPV infections.

Research Interests:

• Human papillomavirus (HPV) molecular biology and oncogenesis
• Ubiquitin proteolytic pathways and E6-mediated p53 degradation
• UBE3A's dual roles in cervical cancer and neurodevelopmental disorders
• E2 protein functions in viral replication and genome maintenance
• HPV immune evasion mechanisms
• Proteomic analysis of viral-host interactions

Key Findings: Identified Brd4 as an E2-binding partner critical for HPV pathogenesis, mapped HPV protein networks via mass spectrometry, and linked UBE3A to both cancer and Angelman Syndrome/ASD pathways. His work bridges virology, cancer biology, and neurogenetics.