Ryan M. Thomas, M.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Surgery, Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology
Pancreatic cancer is the third most common cause of cancer death in the United States. It is set to become the second-leading cause by 2030. Research from our group has shown that the microbiome plays an important role in pancreatic cancer development and progression. The microbiome is the collection of microorganisms that share the body space of every individual and play key roles in normal physiology as well as diseases, including cancer. Notably, the microbiome has been shown to regulate the anti-cancer functions of the immune system in humans. Studying these processes will help to understand cancer progression, resistance to treatment, and ultimately aid in our treatment of cancer. Recently, the Thomas lab has identified a bacteria that can activate a special type of immune cell, called natural killer cells, to kill pancreatic cancer. This bacterium has the ability to increase the movement of natural killer cells into pancreatic cancer tumors, turn natural killer cells “on”, and subsequently reduce pancreatic tumor growth. Identifying the bacterial factors that cause this observation will be an important step to treating patients with this deadly disease.
Ryan Thomas is a surgical oncologist and basic science researcher at the University of Florida who has studied pancreatic cancer biology for nearly 20 years. His research focuses on the role of the microbiome in pancreatic cancer development, progression and resistance to chemotherapy.
Core Standards
SC.912.L.14.3
Compare and contrast the general structures of plant and animal cells. Compare and contrast the general structures of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
SC.912.L.14.6
Explain the significance of genetic factors, environmental factors, and pathogenic agents to health from the perspectives of both individual and public health.
SC.912.L.16.7
Describe how viruses and bacteria transfer genetic material between cells and the role of this process in biotechnology.
SC.912.L.16.8
Explain the relationship between mutation, cell cycle, and uncontrolled cell growth potentially resulting in cancer.
SC.912.L.16.9
Explain how and why the genetic code is universal and is common to almost all organisms.
SC.912.L.16.10
Evaluate the impact of biotechnology on the individual, society and the environment, including medical and ethical issues.
SC.912.N.1.3
Recognize that the strength or usefulness of a scientific claim is evaluated through scientific argumentation, which depends on critical and logical thinking, and the active consideration of alternative scientific explanations to explain the data presented.
SC.912.N.1.6
Describe how scientific inferences are drawn from scientific observations and provide examples from the content being studied.
SC.912.N.1.7
Recognize the role of creativity in constructing scientific questions, methods and explanations.
