Undergraduate student Belinda Lin Xu presented her summer research at the MD Anderson Cancer Center, where she investigated the role of the protein NONO in enhancing oncolytic virus therapies for glioblastoma. Her work highlights the strong research foundation provided by the Madia Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Physics, which prepared her to contribute to cutting-edge cancer research.
The Madia Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Physics hosted a research seminar on Friday, October 31, 2025, featuring Belinda Lin Xu, who presented her summer research experience at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center during a departmental seminar .
Belinda spent 10 weeks in Houston, Texas, as part of the Partnership for Careers in Cancer Science and Medicine and the John J. Kopchick Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship. This highly competitive program provides undergraduates with the opportunity to conduct hands-on biomedical research alongside world-class scientists.
At MD Anderson, Belinda worked under the mentorship of Andrew Gillard in the laboratory of Candelaria Gomez-Manzano and Juan Fueyo in the Department of Neuro-Oncology. Her project, titled “NONO as a Novel Adenovirus Sensor and Immune Regulator,” explored how the protein NONO interacts with cGAS—a key component of the innate immune system—and how this interaction influences immune responses.
“My professors and mentors have been incredibly supportive, and this experience has strengthened my commitment to a future in biomedical research,” Belinda shared.
Following Caleb Rokosky (summer 2023) and Jessica Delaney (summer 2024), Belinda Lin Xu is the IUP student this summer to complete a research program at MD Anderson Cancer Center. These exceptional achievements and experiences continue to shape the academic and professional journeys of IUP students.