When you think of anthrax, you might picture history books or scary headlines. But for Dr. William S. Lawrence, anthrax is a daily focus—and a key example of the One health approach. As a lead researcher at the Galveston National Laboratory (GNL), Dr. Lawrence works behind the scenes on treatments and vaccines that could one day save lives.
His journey into infectious disease research wasn’t something he planned. He always thought he would go into cancer research. After Receiving his biology degree from Texas A&M, he worked as a research assistant in San Antonio before coming to UTMB for graduate school. It was there that his interest shifted after doing lab rotations in immunology and microbiology.
The combination of microbiology and immunology really intrigued him. This made him join the lab of Dr. Johnny Peterson, a respected anthrax researcher. When Dr. Peterson retired in 2020, Dr. Lawrence continued his work, stepping up to lead the lab and carry on the research legacy.
Caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis, anthrax can affect livestock, wildlife, and humans. Anthrax is a zoonotic disease, which means it spreads between animals and people. Some recent outbreaks of Anthrax include the one in Wyoming and Thailand.
Although his lab doesn’t do fieldwork or work directly with clinical samples, their research plays a big role in protecting public health. “Cutaneous anthrax is more common, but it’s easier to treat. Inhalation cases are rare but dangerous—especially if used as a bioweapon.”
Most of the work Dr. Lawrence does happens in UTMB’s BSL-3 enhanced labs—high-security labs designed to safely study dangerous pathogens. “We test therapeutics and vaccines, especially for companies that don’t have the facilities to do this type of work,” he said. “We’re kind of the middle step between development and real-world application.”
He’s also the Director of Aerobiology at UTMB, which means he helps design experiments that simulate how infections would happen in real life. For example, to study inhalation anthrax, his team uses aerosolized spores to infect animal models before testing treatment options.
In one of the more recent studies, Dr. Lawrence evaluated an antibiotic called teixobactin. “It’s effective against gram-positive bacteria like anthrax,” he said. “In our rabbit models, it gave 100% protection. That was a big success,” he added.
While the work is intense, Dr. Lawrence emphasized how lucky he feels to be at UTMB. “Facilities like the GNL are rare,” he said. UTMB is one of the few places that can do this kind of research safely. That’s the reason why so many companies reach out to researchers like him at UTMB.
He also believes in the value of mentoring and teamwork. He said that the collaborative nature of UTMB played a major role in shaping his career. He said “If you're curious and willing to ask questions, people are happy to help and that’s how young researchers can find their path too.”
As anthrax continues to be a threat in both natural outbreaks and as a potential bioweapon, Dr. Lawrence’s work is more relevant than ever. He believes that strong regulation, awareness, and access to vaccines and treatments are key—especially in countries where regulations may not be as strict.
“You’re never going to eliminate anthrax,” he said. “It’s in the soil, especially where livestock graze. But what we can do is control it, and be prepared—because that can make all the difference.”
Through his dedication, Dr. Lawrence is not only advancing science but also building a safer future—one experiment at a time.