As the Doris Johns Cherry Professor at the University of Rochester, Gorbunova identified high molecular weight hyaluronan as the key mediator of cancer resistance in the naked mole rat.

[3] In 2004, Gorbunova and Andrei Seluanov established a research laboratory at the University of Rochester to study the evolution of tumour suppressor mechanisms in rodents.

"[8] Throughout her tenure at the University of Rochester, Gorbunova's research team continued to focus on the naked mole rat as a key to understanding cancer resistance among animals.

[11] In 2014, Gorbunova was appointed the Doris Johns Cherry Professor[12] and began to lead an National Institute on Aging project to explore the factors responsible for longevity.

[13] During the COVID-19 pandemic, Gorbunova's research team compared the longevity and virus resistance mechanisms within bats to suggest treatments for diseases in humans.