George Thomas , MD

George Thomas joined the University of Cincinnati in 2005. He is the Scientic Director of the Metabolic Disease Institute, and holds the John and Gladys Strauss Chair in Cancer Research. He is recognized for the purification and cloning of the cell-signalling molecules S6K1 and S6K2. Dr. Thomas's laboratory is focused on elucidating the role of these kinases in cell growth, and is responsible for the identification of the upstream regulatory components that control their activity, including the TSC1/TSC2 tumor suppressor complex. Recently, the Thomas group has focused on the role that this pathway plays in the regulation of appetite and energy balance, the pathogenesis of metabolic disorders such as insulin resistance and diabetes, and the pathogenesis of cancer-related syndromes such as type 1 neurofibromatosis. The Thomas laboratory has recently shown that S6K1 plays a critical role in a negative feedback loop to monitor insulin signaling, and is following up on this observation to study how the pathologies underlying cancer, obesity and diabetes are intimately linked through mTOR/S6K signaling.

Bachelor's Degree: University of California 1969 (Biology (Honors))

Doctoral Degree: University of California 1975 (Biochemistry)

Postdoctoral Fellowship: Friedrich Miescher-Institute 1979 (Molecular Biology)

Research Fellowship : Friedrich Miescher-Institute 1979

Junior Group Leader: Friedrich Miescher-Institute 1984 (Growth Control)

Senior Group Leader: Friedrich Miescher-Institute 2004 (Growth Control)

Hematology Oncology

1969 -1969 Teaching Assistant, Department of Biology, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA

1970 -1975 Graduate Research Assistant, Studies in Biology, University of California at Santa Cruz ,

1975 -1979 Postdoctoral Research Assistant, Friedrich Miescher-Institute, Basel, Switzerland

1979 -1984 Junior Group Leader, , Friedrich Miescher Institute, Basel, Switzerland

1984 -2004 Senior Group Leader, Friedrich Miescher-Institute, Basel, Switzerland, Basel, Switzerland

2005 - Strauss Professor of Cancer Research, Department of Cancer and Cell Biology, ,

2009 - Scientific Director, Metabolic Disease Institute, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati,

2005 -2007 Novartis Metabolic Disease Research Grant Temporal and Tissue Specific Deletion of the S6K1 Gene Role:(Principal Investigator) Completed

2005 -2007 Procter and Gamble Pharmaceuticals Role of S6K1 in Adipogenesis Role:(Principal Investigator, Gift) Completed

2003 -2008 Novartis, Oncology Genome wide screen for RAD001 resistant mutants in Drosophila Role:(Principal Investigator) Completed

Grant: #U01 CA84292 Investigators:PI: Pandolfi PP 2004 -2009 Mouse Models of Human Cancers Consortium Aberrant Control of Protein Translation in Cancer Pathology Role:(Co-Investigator) Completed

Grant: #RC1 DK087680 09-03-2009 -07-03-2011 Model Systems for Hematologic Disorders Caused by Ribosomal Protein Deficiency Role:(Principal Investigator) Active

Grant: #R01 DK73802 07-01-2006 -04-03-2011 NIDDK/NIH Mechanisms of S6K1 Mediated Insulin Resistance The goal of this project is to determine how sustained nutrient activation of S6K1 dampens insulin-induced signaling and contributes to the development of diet-induced insulin resistance in the mouse. Role:(Principal Investigator) Active

Grant: #U01 CA120475 Investigators:PI: Kozma SC 12-01-2006 -11-30-2011 NCI/NIH The Role of mTOR Signaling in Hepatocellular Carcinogenisis Role:(Co-Investigator) Active

Grant: #R01-DK078019 07-10-2008 -04-30-2013 NIDDK/NIH Role of hVps34/mTOR Complex1 in Amino Acid-induced Obesity and Insulin Resistance Role:(Principal Investigator) Active

Grant: #P50 NS057531 Investigators:PI: Ratner N 07-10-2008 -04-30-2013 Cincinnati Center of Neurofibromatosis Research The goal of our segment of the project grant is to carry out preclinical studies in signaling pathways contributing to NF1-associated tumors. There are four specific aims, to determine (i) the contribution of PI3K and RAF signaling pathways to NF1 (ii) the contribution of PKA (iii) the role of S6K1 in NF1 tumor formation and in collaboration with J. Perentesis, a clinical oncologist, (iv) the identification of other signaling pathways contributing to NF1using preclinical compounds from Novartis. Role:(Co-Investigator) Active

Grant: #U01CA141464-01 10-01-2009 -Bad Format: 20140931 MMHCC/NCI/NIH The Effect of Diet and Nutrients on the Progression and Treatment of Prostate Cancer Role:(Principal Investigator) Active

02-01-2008 -09-30-2010 United States Air Force Role of branched-chain amino acids, particularly leucine, in cognition Role:(Principal Investigator) Active Type:Grant

Grant: #SRS 001201 Investigators:Thomas, George 02-01-2004 -07-31-2007 Institute of Cell Biology (Switzerland) Fellowships in Cancer Biology Role:PI $327,591.09 Closed Level:Foreign Non-Profit

Grant: #R01 DK073802 07-10-2006 -04-30-2012 National Inst of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease Mechanisms of 56K1 Mediated Insulin Resistance Role:PI $1,563,228.00 Closed Level:Federal

Grant: #SRS001823 Investigators:Thomas, George 04-01-2005 -03-31-2007 Novartis AG Temporal and Tissue Specific Deletion of the S6K1 Gene Role:PI $163,921.00 Closed Level:Industry

Grant: #U01 CA84292-08 Investigators:Thomas, George 09-23-2004 -03-31-2009 National Cancer Institute Aberrant Control of Protein Translation in Cancer Pathology Role:PI $449,774.00 Closed Level:Federal

Grant: #TECH BRTT02-0002 Investigators:Thomas, George 02-01-2003 -06-30-2008 Ohio Board of Regents Genome Research Infrastructure Partnership Role:PI $9,000,000.00 Closed Level:State of Ohio

Grant: #004918-001 Investigators:Ruhf-Mensch, Marie Laure; Thomas, George 05-01-2007 -06-30-2008 Novartis AG A Genetic Screen for Mutations Conferring Either RAD001 and/or BEZ235 Resistance in Drosophila Role:PI $114,796.00 Closed Level:Industry

Grant: #0000169328 / FA8650-05-6518 Investigators:Benoit, Stephen; Thomas, George 10-13-2007 -12-31-2010 Department of the Air Force Studies on Pathologies of Interest to the Air Force Research Lab Role:PI $709,767.00 Closed Level:Federal

Grant: #R13 HL093774 Investigators:McCormack, Francis; Thomas, George 04-04-2008 -04-08-2011 National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute 2008 LAM Research Conference Role:Collaborator $45,000.00 Closed Level:Federal

Grant: #R01 DK078019 Investigators:Greis, Kenneth; Kozma, Sara; Thomas, George 07-15-2008 -05-31-2013 National Inst of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease Role of hVps34/mTOR Complex in Amino Acid-Induced Obesity and Insulin Resistance Role:PI $1,371,652.00 Active Level:Federal

Grant: #CHMC 105495 / P50 NS057531 Investigators:Kozma, Sara; Thomas, George 09-15-2008 -06-30-2013 National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Cincinnati Center for Neurofibromatosis Research Role:PI $1,318,083.00 Active Level:Federal

Grant: #1-2009-293 Investigators:Dalessio, David; Kozma, Sara; Thomas, George 03-01-2009 -02-29-2012 Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International Role of mTOR in the Enhancement of Beta-Cell Mass and Function Role:Collaborator $445,500.00 Closed Level:Private Non-Profit

Grant: #U01 CA084292-10 Investigators:Thomas, George 07-22-2008 -03-31-2009 National Cancer Institute Aberrant Control of Protein Translation in Cancer Pathology Role:PI $210,897.00 Closed Level:Federal

Grant: #U01 CA141464 Investigators:Hui, David; Kozma, Sara; Seeley, Randy; Thomas, George 07-01-2009 -06-30-2014 National Cancer Institute The Effect of Diet and Nutrients on the Progression and Treatment of Prostate Cancer Role:PI $3,062,687.00 Active Level:Federal

Grant: #1 RC1 DK087680-01 Investigators:Fumagalli, Stefano; Kozma, Sara; Thomas, George 09-30-2009 -07-31-2011 National Inst of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease Model Systems for Hematologic Disorders Caused by Ribosomal Protein Deficiency Role:PI $997,824.00 Closed Level:Federal

Grant: #Project 106761 (NIH# P50 NS057531-01A Investigators:Thomas, George 09-01-2009 -08-31-2011 National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Preclinical Studies in Signaling Pathways Contributing to NF1-Associated Tumors Role:PI $184,312.00 Closed Level:Federal

Grant: #706924 / FA8650-10-2-6062 Investigators:Benoit, Stephen; Thomas, George 01-01-2011 -12-31-2012 Air Force Research Laboratory Regulation of Biomarkers of Cognitive Enhancement by Nutrient Modulation of mTORC1 Signaling Role:PI $269,142.00 Closed Level:Federal

Grant: #R01 AG039833 Investigators:Selvaraj, Anand; Thomas, George 04-04-2011 -03-31-2013 National Institute on Aging Role of dS6 Phosphorylation in dTORC1/dS6K Mediated Longevity in Drosophila Role:PI $407,438.00 Active Level:Federal

Grant: #108330 / P50HL107-159 Investigators:Thomas, George 05-01-2011 -04-30-2013 National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute Targetable Signaling Pathways Mediating Pulmonary Fibrosis Role:PI $42,368.00 Active Level:Federal

Grant: #1 F32 CA162707-01 Investigators:Thomas, George; Wiczer, Brian 08-01-2011 -07-31-2013 National Cancer Institute The Role of Class III PI-3 Kinase in Mtor Complex 1 Signaling and Tumorigenesis Role:Collaborator $51,326.00 Active Level:Federal

Grant: #R01 CA158768 Investigators:Kozma, Sara; Thomas, George 03-01-2012 -02-28-2017 National Cancer Institute The Function of rpL5 and rpL11 in Induction of p53 Role:PI $632,004.00 Active Level:Federal

Grant: #SRS 008863 Investigators:Thomas, George 10-14-2013 -10-13-2014 Diamond Blackfan Anemia Foundation The role of p53 in the mechanism of failed erythropoiesis associated with mutations in RPL5 or RPL11 versus other ribosomal proteins Role:PI $49,274.98 Awarded Level:Private Non-Profit

Peer Reviewed Publications

Dikeakos, Jimmy D; Atkins, Katelyn M; Thomas, Laurel; Emert-Sedlak, Lori; Byeon, In-Ja L; Jung, Jinwon; Ahn, Jinwoo; Wortman, Matthew D; Kukull, Ben; Saito, Masumichi; Koizumi, Hirokazu; Williamson, Danielle M; Hiyoshi, Masateru; Barklis, Eric; Takiguchi, Masafumi; Suzu, Shinya; Gronenborn, Angela M; Smithgall, Thomas E; Thomas, Gary (2010. ) Small Molecule Inhibition of HIV-1-Induced MHC-I Downregulation Identifies a Temporally Regulated Switch in Nef Action.Molecular biology of the cell, , More Information

Carnevalli, Larissa S; Masuda, Kouhei; Frigerio, Francesca; Le Bacquer, Olivier; Um, Sung Hee; Gandin, Valentina; Topisirovic, Ivan; Sonenberg, Nahum; Thomas, George; Kozma, Sara C (2010. ) S6K1 plays a critical role in early adipocyte differentiation.Developmental cell, , 18 (5 ) ,763-74 More Information

Kalender, Adem; Selvaraj, Anand; Kim, So Young; Gulati, Pawan; Brûlé, Sophie; Viollet, Benoit; Kemp, Bruce E; Bardeesy, Nabeel; Dennis, Patrick; Schlager, John J; Marette, André; Kozma, Sara C; Thomas, George (2010. ) Metformin, independent of AMPK, inhibits mTORC1 in a rag GTPase-dependent manner.Cell metabolism, , 11 (5 ) ,390-401 More Information

Selvaraj, Anand; Thomas, George (2010. ) Phosphatase 2A puts the brakes on mTORC1 nutrient signaling.Cell metabolism, , 11 (4 ) ,245-7 More Information

Plas, David R; Thomas, George (2009. ) Tubers and tumors: rapamycin therapy for benign and malignant tumors.Current opinion in cell biology, , 21 (2 ) ,230-6 More Information

Gulati, Pawan; Gaspers, Lawrence D; Dann, Stephen G; Joaquin, Manel; Nobukuni, Takahiro; Natt, Francois; Kozma, Sara C; Thomas, Andrew P; Thomas, George (2008. ) Amino acids activate mTOR complex 1 via Ca2+/CaM signaling to hVps34.Cell metabolism, , 7 (5 ) ,456-65 More Information

Johansson, Gunnar; Mahller, Yonatan Y; Collins, Margaret H; Kim, Mi-Ok; Nobukuni, Takahiro; Perentesis, John; Cripe, Timothy P; Lane, Heidi A; Kozma, Sara C; Thomas, George; Ratner, Nancy (2008. ) Effective in vivo targeting of the mammalian target of rapamycin pathway in malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors.Molecular cancer therapeutics, , 7 (5 ) ,1237-45 More Information

Dann, Stephen G; Selvaraj, Anand; Thomas, George (2007. ) mTOR Complex1-S6K1 signaling: at the crossroads of obesity, diabetes and cancer.Trends in molecular medicine, , 13 (6 ) ,252-9 More Information

Gulati, P; Thomas, G (2007. ) Nutrient sensing in the mTOR/S6K1 signalling pathway.Biochemical Society transactions, , 35 (Pt 2 ) ,236-8 More Information

Nobukuni, Takahiro; Kozma, Sara C; Thomas, George (2007. ) hvps34, an ancient player, enters a growing game: mTOR Complex1/S6K1 signaling.Current opinion in cell biology, , 19 (2 ) ,135-41 More Information

Um, Sung Hee; D'Alessio, David; Thomas, George (2006. ) Nutrient overload, insulin resistance, and ribosomal protein S6 kinase 1, S6K1.Cell metabolism, , 3 (6 ) ,393-402 More Information

Dann, Stephen G; Thomas, George (2006. ) The amino acid sensitive TOR pathway from yeast to mammals.FEBS letters, , 580 (12 ) ,2821-9 More Information

Cota, Daniela; Proulx, Karine; Smith, Kathi A Blake; Kozma, Sara C; Thomas, George; Woods, Stephen C; Seeley, Randy J (2006. ) Hypothalamic mTOR signaling regulates food intake.Science (New York, N.Y.), , 312 (5775 ) ,927-30 More Information

Franz, David Neal; Leonard, Jennifer; Tudor, Cynthia; Chuck, Gail; Care, Marguerite; Sethuraman, Gopalan; Dinopoulos, Argirios; Thomas, George; Crone, Kerry R (2006. ) Rapamycin causes regression of astrocytomas in tuberous sclerosis complex.Annals of neurology, , 59 (3 ) ,490-8 More Information

Gangloff, Yann-Gaël; Mueller, Matthias; Dann, Stephen G; Svoboda, Petr; Sticker, Melanie; Spetz, Jean-Francois; Um, Sung Hee; Brown, Eric J; Cereghini, Silvia; Thomas, George; Kozma, Sara C (2004. ) Disruption of the mouse mTOR gene leads to early postimplantation lethality and prohibits embryonic stem cell development.Molecular and cellular biology, , 24 (21 ) ,9508-16 More Information

Craig, A J; Cualing, H; Thomas, G; Lamerson, C; Smith, R (1998. ) Cytophagic histiocytic panniculitis--a syndrome associated with benign and malignant panniculitis: case comparison and review of the literature. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, , 39 (5 Pt 1 ) ,721-36

Frohman, L A; Downs, T R; Kelijman, M; Clarke, I J; Thomas, G (1990. ) Somatostatin secretion and action in the regulation of growth hormone secretion. Metabolism: clinical and experimental, , 39 (9 Suppl 2 ) ,43-5

Kashiwagi, S; Tew, J M; van Loveren, H R; Thomas, G (1988. ) Trapping of giant basilar trunk aneurysms. Report of two cases.Journal of neurosurgery, , 69 (3 ) ,442-5 More Information

B.A., Biology, with honors, University of California at San Diego

1971 -1975 California Graduate Scholarship

1972 -1975 NIH Biomedical Research Assistantship

1975 -1977 European Molecular Biology Long Term Fellowship

1977 -1979 Friedrich Miescher-Institute Postdoctoral Fellowship

1995 -1995 Max Cloëtta Prize for Medical Research

1995 -1995 Principal Investigator Award, Roche Research Foundation Grant

1995 -1998 Principal Investigator Award, HFSPO Grant

1989 -1991: United States representative to the Human Frontier Science Program Organization (HFSPO)

1992 -To Present: Elected Member of EMBO (European Molecular Biology Organization)

1992 -To Present: 'Privatdozent' (Adjunct Professor) University of Basel, Biocenter,

2000 -2002: Head: Task Force for Basel Biology Center and Research Institute of Diseases of the Aging

2001 -2004: Elected Member to the Swiss Cancer League: Scientific Expert Committee

2006 -2008: Deputy Director of the Cancer Center University of Cincinnati,

2005 -2009: Interim Director, Genome Research Institute University of Cincinnati,

2009 -To Present: Scientific Director, Metabolic Disease Institute University of Cincinnati,

Consultant for National Cancer Institute

Consultant for Swiss National Government on Scientific Matters Bern, Switzerland

Consultant Medical Research Council Great Britain,

Scientific Advisory Board: The Genetics Company Zurich, Switzerland

Scientific Advisory Board: Association for Brain Tumor Therapy Basel, Switzerland

Academic - Vontz Center for Molecular Studies
3125 Eden Avenue
Cincinnati  Ohio, 45267
Phone: 513-558-7100
Fax: 513-558-6703
george.thomas@uc.edu