Chou-Zen Giam

Chou-Zen Giam is a Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) in Bethesda, MD. His research focuses on human retroviruses, particularly HTLV-1, and their role in oncogenesis.

Dr. Giam's educational background includes:

• B.S. in Chemistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan (1975)
• Ph.D. in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA (1983)
• Post-doctoral Fellow, Laboratory of Molecular Virology, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA (1987)

His primary research interests include the molecular biology and pathogenesis of human retroviruses, with a focus on HTLV-1 and its role in adult T-cell leukemia (ATL). He investigates how viral regulatory proteins, such as Tax and HBZ, hijack cellular processes including mRNA transcription, cell cycle control, and signal transduction. Current projects explore genomic instability in ATL cells, NF-kB-driven cellular senescence, genetic alterations in HTLV-1-infected T cells, and mechanisms of viral latency and reactivation.

The recent publications (2006-2018) demonstrate a consistent focus on HTLV-1 and its oncoprotein Tax, particularly its interaction with the NF-kB pathway and induction of cellular senescence. Research has expanded to include KSHV and the role of viral proteins in counteracting senescence. A recurring theme is the molecular mechanisms linking viral infection to oncogenesis, with an emphasis on signal transduction and cell cycle dysregulation.

No scientific awards were mentioned in the provided text.

Dr. Giam has been continuously funded by the NIH, AmFAR, VA, and DoD. His lab collaborates internationally with researchers in Asia, Europe, Africa, and South America to study HTLV-1 replication, persistence, and pathogenesis. While specific students are not listed, his research group investigates fundamental mechanisms of viral oncogenesis with the goal of developing preventive and therapeutic strategies for HTLV-1-associated diseases.

Dr. Giam leads a research laboratory at USUHS that focuses on human retroviruses. His team collaborates extensively with an international network of scientists across multiple continents to advance understanding of HTLV-1 and related viruses.