My research program at the Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology at the University of Alberta explores viruses that selectively kill cancer cells, called oncolytic viruses. Our studies focus on human reovirus, a non-pathogenic RNA virus that inherently targets transformed cells and is currently in phase III clinical trial as a cancer therapeutic. My laboratory seeks to understand why some cells are more permissive to reovirus than others, and to identify viral gene modifications that improve reovirus oncolysis. We have discovered reovirus variants (i.e. mutants) that exhibit superior oncolytic potency relative to wild-type reovirus. Using reovirus variants, we are now exploring how specific viral genes can promote reovirus replication in cancer cells. We are also using various molecular techniques to identify reovirus genes that induce cellular anti- and pro- reoviral responses in normal and cancer cells, respectively. Ultimately, our goal is to optimize reovirus oncotherapy using reovirus variants with enhanced potency towards specific cancers.