MD Anderson-UTH Grad

The Graduate School honors the service and sacrifice of those remembered on Memorial Day — our administrative offices will be closed Monday, May 25, 2026. The offices will reopen Tuesday, May 26. For assistance during this time, please contact talk2gsbs@uth.tmc.edu.

Cancer Biology PhD student Kaylene Lu is leading in the lab and beyond. She is advancing glioblastoma research — one of the most aggressive forms of brain cancer — while reflecting on her growth as a leader at the Graduate School. As a Kopchick Fellow and chair of the 2025 Kopchick Symposium, she developed skills in collaboration, delegation, and team leadership — experiences that continue to shape her approach to science. 🎥 Watch to learn more about Lu's research and PhD experience. #WeAreGSBS #CancerResearch

A day years in the making. 🎓 We’re still smiling about last week’s UT MD Anderson UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Commencement Ceremony celebrating the Class of 2026. Behind every hooding, handshake, and celebration was years of research, resilience, mentorship, friendship, and support — and a future full of possibility. Congratulations again, Class of 2026, and thank you to everyone who helped make the our celebration so meaningful! 📽️Hear from a few graduates about their next steps, and see some of our memories from the day: loom.ly/2qdFBkQ #WeAreGSBS

Congratulations to UT MD Anderson UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences students Shannon Erhardt, MS, and Kaylene Lu on receiving this award! 👏 Named in honor of Thomas F. Burks — an outstanding researcher, inspirational teacher, academic leader, and mentor — this scholarship recognizes students at UTHealth Houston schools who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement and dedication to their field. 🎉 Join us in celebrating Erhardt and Lu on this well-deserved honor! #WeAreGSBS #AcademicExcellence

Our May 13, 2026 commencement ceremony livestream is available at youtube.com/live/uFuGI8c6h…. Congratulations, graduates! 👏 #WeAreGSBS

From summer student to PhD. 🎓 Eight years after first discovering UT MD Anderson UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Rolando (Roli) Vedia is graduating from the Therapeutics and Pharmacology program, where he advanced CAR T-cell therapy research and took on leadership roles across the GSBS community. “It takes a village,” he said — crediting the mentors, lab mates, family, and friends who supported him along the way. Now, he’s continuing that work at UT MD Anderson, helping enable the next generation of research. Read his story: loom.ly/Mz5Asc4 Commencement day is here! Congratulations to Vedia and all of our graduates! 👏 #WeAreGSBS @TAPatGSBS

Meet alum Jared Fradette, MS '24, whose research uncovered how miR-200 loss drives early immune changes in non-small cell lung cancer. Today, he works as a lab manager supporting thoracic oncology research for the Don L. Gibbons Lab at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Swipe to learn more about his graduate journey and beyond! #WeAreGSBS #GeneticsEpigenetics @UTGSBSGnE

🔬 The Quantitative Sciences program brought research, community, and a little adventure together at their 2026 Retreat at the Health Museum recently. Students shared the depth and range of their work through pre- and post-candidacy talks and poster presentations. The group also welcomed keynote speaker Kamila Naxerova, PhD, associate professor of Genetics at Harvard, who spoke on somatic evolution in health and disease, with a focus on metastasis progression in colorectal cancer. Between sessions, a scavenger hunt, great food, and time together created space for conversation and collaboration. Congratulations to this year’s award winners for outstanding presentations and research! 🎥 Take a look at some of our favorite moments from the day. #WeAreGSBS #QuantitativeSciences

Congratulations to our 2026 Melva S. Ramsay Award winner!👏 Erica Leday, senior administrative coordinator at the Graduate School, has been recognized for her dedication, responsiveness, and behind-the-scenes impact supporting Graduate School students, faculty, and staff. 🔗 Learn more about Leday and her work: gsbs.uth.edu/news/story/eri…

We’re continuing to spotlight students who have successfully defended their thesis or dissertation this year — an incredible milestone that reflects their hard work, passion, and contributions to their field. 🎓📚 Join us in celebrating these scholars and keep an eye out for more defense highlights coming soon! 🌟 #WeAreGSBS

Celebrating the first awardees of the Graduate School’s Peer Review Challenge. 🎉 This new program gives students hands-on experience in proposal writing and peer review — preparing them to compete for national fellowships and future funding. 👏 Congratulations to this year’s awardees, and to all participants building the skills that support strong, competitive science. Read more here: loom.ly/aR1Rbrs #WeAreGSBS

Six trainees from our T32 Clinical and Translational Sciences Training Program helped shape the national science conversation at the 2026 Association for Clinical and Translational Science annual meeting in Milwaukee this week — sharing research and connecting with translational scientists from across the country. 💖 Proud to see our trainees contributing to the future of clinical and translational science. Cancer Biology student Sarah Ghalayini, along with postdoctoral trainees Ritu Bohat, PhD, and Farinaz Barghi, PhD, competed in the prestigious Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) Competition. Ghalayini gave an oral presentation, and along with Medical Physics student Natalie West, Immunology student Romeesa Khan, and postdoctoral trainee Farinaz Barghi, they also shared their research among peers in poster sessions. Scoring highly across all abstract submissions, Ghalayini received a gold ribbon award, and West and Khan received blue ribbons. 👏 Congratulations to all!

April’s Paper of the Month highlights new insights into inflammatory breast cancer and the tumor microenvironment. Cancer Biology graduate Lan T. H. Phi uncovered a novel role for AXL, showing it promotes tumor progression by driving immunosuppressive macrophage polarization through STAT6 signaling. 🔗 Read more about her promising research: loom.ly/wDi85Rs #WeAreGSBS #CancerBiology

Moments from Graduate Student Appreciation Week (GSAW) 2026 💜 Last week was all about celebrating our students — from games and giveaways to informational sessions like financial wellness, we enjoyed the time spent together as a community. Organized with the support of the Graduate Student Success and Well-Being Committee and student groups, this annual event reflects the energy and care that define our school. 📸 View our memories from GSAW 2026: flic.kr/s/aHBqjCRc4G #WeAreGSBS #GSAW2026 #GraduateStudentAppreciationWeek

At The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Therapeutics and Pharmacology PhD student Tyler Bateman is building his training in a collaborative environment with strong mentorship that continues to shape his development as a scientist. He is advancing research on targeted therapies for neuroendocrine tumors, combining his early interest in chemistry with a commitment to improving patient outcomes. @TAPatGSBS #WeAreGSBS #TherapeuticsAndPharmacology 🎥 Watch our video to learn more about Bateman’s work in the Ali Azhdarinia lab.

This week marks a notable moment for three Graduate School students who received awards in this year’s U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP): - Lan Zheng, Cancer Biology PhD student – Awardee - Kendall Culpepper, PhD student – Honorable Mention - Emma Shoemaker, MS student – Honorable Mention The NSF GRFP is one of the most competitive fellowships in the country, and these results reflect the talent, persistence, and originality our students bring to their work every day. Learn more about the Graduate Research Fellowships for the 2026-2027 academic year at loom.ly/FGl23qk Please join us in congratulating Zheng, Culpepper, and Shoemaker on this incredible achievement! 🎉 #NSFGRFP #WeAreGSBS #UTHealthHouston #MDAnderson

THANK YOU to the Graduate School community for investing in our students on #UTHealthHoustonGivingDay! In just 24 hours, we raised $20,020 from 29 generous donors who came together to support students, advance discovery, and impact human health. We are grateful for the support of our alumni, faculty, students, and friends, and for the difference you make every day. Your advocacy and support are helping shape the future of biomedical science!

They are matched! 🎉 Congratulations to our physician-scientists in The University of Texas Medical Scientist Training Program at Houston on celebrating Match Day 2026 in March! Six students matched into residency, marking an exciting step in their careers in translational research. - Pahul Hanjra – University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School – OB/GYN - Clarissa Hoffman – University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) - Otolaryngology - Kareem Wahid – MD Anderson Cancer Center – Radiation Oncology - Amanda Lanier – University of Washington (Seattle) – Internal Medicine - Grace Murley – UTHealth Houston – Diagnostic Radiology - Jonathan Schulz – UT Medical Branch at Galveston – Family Medicine (not pictured) We’re proud to celebrate this milestone with you and all that lies ahead in your careers in medicine and research. #WeAreGSBS #MatchDay2026