INCA is a European research project that investigates the role of chronic Infections in the development of Cancer. About 17% of human cancer cases occurring world-wide are caused by one of six human viruses: Human papillomavirus (HPV) Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) Hepatitis B virus (HBV) Hepatitis C virus (HCV) Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8, Kaposi´s sarcoma herpesvirus) Human T- cell leukemia virus I (HTLV-I) Also the bacterium Helicobacter pylori causes many cases of stomach cancer and further unknown infectious agents that contribute to cancer may exist. INCA aims towards a better understanding of: molecular and cellular mechanisms of cancers caused by these infectious agents mechanisms of long-term persistence of these infectious agents in apparently healthy hosts genetic factors that contribute to cancers associated with infection Based on this knowledge INCA will develop and validate: in vivo models to study chronic inflammation and cancer progression new diagnostic procedures to identify infected people likely to develop cancers This will ultimately lead to new drugs and procedures to interfere with development of infection-associated cancer. INCA is supported by funding under the Sixth Research Framework Programme of the European Union, (Integrated Project LSHC-CT-2005-018704).