The cancer conversation has stayed at the forefront of the medical consciousness for decades, and with good reason. This disease continues to devastate lives, ranking as the second-leading cause of death in the United States. This year, 2,001,140 new cases are anticipated, with 611,720 projected fatalities. Statistics such as these underscore the vital importance of cancer research. Recent developments in the field, including therapeutic vaccines, CAR T-cell therapy, and trained immunity, have significantly enhanced treatment effectiveness. These breakthroughs have transformed cancer care, offering medical professionals more targeted and efficient tools in the fight against this disease.
Working for the Gonda Lab at BYU allows students to directly contribute to the new discoveries being made in the search for a cure. For those interested in making a difference in the vast field of cancer research, the Gonda Lab is the place to do it.
Dr. Amber Gonda, whose research focuses specifically on the intercellular communication of cell-death proteins in cancer, is committed to achieving earlier and more manageable disease diagnoses and facilitating regular monitoring of cancer progression and treatment response.
“I feel like cancer is such a huge part of everyone's life,” Gonda commented. “One of my mentors once said that her goal is to give [the patient] more time with their family and with their loved ones—and that really struck me. I decided I wanted to help improve the situation of those who have cancer.”
Driven by this purpose, Dr. Gonda's lab focuses on developing liquid biopsy technology for early and less invasive cancer detection using biofluids like blood. The technology aims to identify tumor-derived exosomes in blood, creating a cellular and molecular map of the tumor. This method could provide regular tumor tracking and early detection.
Dr. Gonda’s commitment to fostering student-led inquiry enables undergraduates to pursue research that aligns with their own interests. “Dr. Gonda is really good about letting students determine what they want to do,” shares Simon Arredondo (CELL ’27), an undergraduate researcher in the Gonda Lab. “Lots of the projects in our lab right now have stemmed from questions that other students have had.”
Students like Arredondo manage almost every stage of research, from developing questions to presenting findings. This collaborative approach empowers students to actively engage with the research. Dr. Gonda also encourages students to communicate their findings through poster presentations and encourages them to apply for opportunities like the College Undergraduate Research Awards (CURA). The sense of ownership they develop as a result of this hands-on approach directly attributes to the lab’s success.
“There’s a feeling of camaraderie in the Gonda Lab,” graduate student Claire Bruno (MS ‘25, CELL) says warmly. “It's been fascinating to develop this almost God-like attribute together—the ability to understand not only who we are as humans but, since we’re made in God’s image, to also glimpse something about the nature of God.”
In the Gonda Lab, faith and science are intimately connected. Students pray over experiments and strive to heed Dr. Gonda’s reminder to “‘think celestial,’ as President Nelson says, [and] to really keep the gospel in mind while doing things.”
Inspired by this integration of the divine and the data-driven, students are able to better understand how their relationship with God can be positively influenced by their love for science.
“I always hear that God and science are separate,” Bruno muses, “but the greatest scientist I know is God.”
For Bruno and her peers, contributing to cancer research is a spiritual calling, one that merges knowledge and faith to bring hope to those affected by this disease.
For those interested in learning more about the Gonda Lab’s projects and mission, additional information is available here.
One master's student and 11 undergraduate students
Gonda Lab Application Requirements
Dr. Gonda does not have any pre-requisite classes for the lab. She looks for students who are curious, hardworking, and willing to learn how to think critically. A student who is interested in the lab should have specific questions about the lab—about what they study, the students in the lab, etc. These questions help Dr. Gonda see what kind of effort the applicant has put forth and what they are interested in researching.
When will Dr. Gonda be accepting applications?
Dr. Gonda usually accepts applications about a month or so before a new semester. She doesn't always have openings, but if she does, that is when she starts looking to fill them.