Gillison Laboratory
Maura Gillison, M.D., Ph.D.
Principal Investigator
- Departments, Labs and Institutes
- Labs
- Gillison Laboratory
Areas of Research
- Head and Neck Cancer
- HPV
The Gillison Laboratory studies human papillomavirus (HPV) as a cause of human cancer, with a particular focus on the increasingly prevalent HPV-associated head and neck cancers. The laboratory seeks to better understand the causes, biology, and clinical impact of these cancers, to improve their diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Ultimately, the goal is to reduce the burden of HPV-associated malignancies and improve patient outcomes.
In memory of Maura Gillison, M.D., Ph.D.
In memory of Maura Gillison, who passed away June 21, 2026, at the age of 61. Contributions may be made to support her ongoing research. On the online gift form, please select “I’d like to choose where my donation will go” and then “Other” and enter “Gillison Research Memorial” in the box to the right. Contributions may also be mailed to The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, P.O. Box 4486, Houston, TX 77210-4486. Please include "Gillison Research Memorial" in the check’s memo section.
Research
The Gillison Laboratory integrates cutting-edge molecular
biology, genomics, immunology, single-cell and spatial -omics, and
biostatistical technologies to investigate the mechanisms underlying
HPV-positive and HPV-negative head and neck cancers. Research efforts focus on tumor biology, host-virus interactions, immune responses, and biomarker discovery, with the aim of translating scientific findings into more effective strategies for cancer prevention, detection, and therapy.
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Research Areas
Find out about the four types of research taking place at UT MD Anderson.