When Andrew Gillard, a PhD student in the Cancer Biology program at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS), began exploring research opportunities, his goal was clear: contribute to the development of more effective treatments for aggressive cancers. 

In his searched of Graduate School faculty to find a mentor with similar goals, Candelaria Gomez-Manzano, MD’s research resonated with Gillard.  

Supported by the Dr. John J. Kopchick Fellowship, Gillard is advancing his mission to make oncolytic viroimmunotherapy a more powerful tool against cancer, using engineered viruses to target and eliminate tumor cells. 

From personal motivation to scientific purpose 

Gillard’s passion for cancer research is deeply personal. His mother’s diagnosis while he was in high school sparked his interest in tumor biology and treatment innovation. “As appreciative as I am for the treatment she received, I wanted to improve therapeutic options for the next patients diagnosed with the disease.” 

He added, it was only natural to continue researching cancer biology when considering graduate school, and, “there is no better place for cancer research than the Texas Medical Center.”? 

That drive led him to Gomez-Manzano’s lab, whose work in clinical virotherapy trials inspired Gillard to investigate how to sustain and strengthen immune responses against tumors. 

“She has a history of promising clinical significance, and in those clinical trials, we observed that the therapeutic virus was being rapidly cleared by the patient’s immune system, which prompted us to investigate innate immunity following viroimmunotherapy.”

With lab mates and Gomez-Manzano at the MD Anderson Viroimmunotherapy Lab.

Harnessing viruses to fight cancer

Gillard’s research focuses on improving viroimmunotherapy for brain tumors, a particularly challenging cancer type. The therapy relies on specially engineered viruses that infect and replicate within cancer cells, killing them while activating the immune system to join the fight. 

“The fellowship directly funds my experiments and provides me with the resources to focus exclusively on my research,” Gillard said. “Our goal is to understand how the body’s innate immune system responds to the virus so we can enhance its ability to attack tumors without being cleared too quickly.” 

A commitment to patients and progress 

After completing his PhD, Gillard hopes to continue as an independent researcher in a postdoctoral position, where he can continue to apply the research philosophy he learned in graduate school. 

“I want to provide new and effective treatment options for cancer patients, enabling them to spend more time with their loved ones.” 

He encourages younger students to engage fully with their academic community. “Volunteer and participate — there are so many opportunities at GSBS.” 

Above all, Gillard remains grateful for those who have supported his journey. “Rarely do we have the opportunity to draw attention to our support networks. Without those people, I would not have had this amazing opportunity.” 

Beyond the lab, Gillard channels his creativity into the Kopchick Fellows community, where he serves on the Kopchick Symposium communications committee, helping to shape this biennial event taking place today — a showcase of innovative research and collaboration! Gillard designed the symposium’s new logo to reflect the Kopchick Fellows’ shared commitment to discovery and mission to unite students and mentors in advancing research.