Paul Thomes, PhD
Associate Professor
Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology
Auburn University
College of Veterinary Medicine
1130 Wire Road
Auburn, AL 36849
Education
PhD, University of Madras, 2008
MSc, University of Madras, 2003
BSc, University of Madras, India,1999
Professional Experience
Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Nebraska Medical Center
Research Scientist, Carolinas HealthCare System
Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center
Biography
Dr. Thomes assumed his role at Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine in October 2023. Before joining Auburn University, he served as an Assistant Professor at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), where he dedicated his research to Alcohol-Associated Organ Damage. Dr. Thomes has also held positions as a Research Scientist at the Carolinas Health Care System and as a Senior Research Associate at UNMC. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Zoology, followed by a Postgraduate Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology and a master’s degree in microbiology from the University of Madras, India. Dr. Thomes completed his Ph.D. from the same institution, focusing on liver cancer phytotherapy.
Dr. Thomes’ expertise lies in investigating the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying alcohol-induced organ damage, particularly emphasizing the role of autophagy, a vital macromolecule recycling process. His research endeavors aim to comprehend alcohol-related tissue injury within the gut-liver axis, highlighting the significance of alcohol-induced autophagy changes in dysbiosis, intestinal barrier dysfunction, lipid metabolism and liver damage. Employing mouse models and human samples, Dr. Thomes explores how alcohol disrupts intestinal and liver cell functions and investigates the repurposing of FDA-approved drugs to mitigate alcohol-induced damage to the gut and liver. His research program is funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIH/NIAAA).
Research Interests
Autophagy in tissue injury, Metabolic disease, Alcohol-associated organ damage.
Academic Areas
Microanatomy, Alcohol Pathobiology
Key Words
Autophagy, Alcohol, Gut-liver axis, tissue injury