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Department of Surgery College of Medicine
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Ryan M Thomas

Ryan M Thomas, MD

Associate Professor (tenured)

Department: MD-SURGERY-SURGONC-PBS
Business Phone: (352) 265-0535
Business Email: ryan.thomas.md@ufl.edu

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About Ryan M Thomas

Ryan M. Thomas, MD, earned his medical degree from Loyola University Chicago and completed his surgical residency at the University of Cincinnati. For two years during his residency, he was a National Institutes of Health T32 research fellow, studying the role of the RON tyrosine kinase receptor signaling that leads to pancreatic cancer progression. Following residency, he completed a two-year fellowship in Complex General Surgical Oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, which included an additional laboratory year studying chemotherapy delivery and resistance in pancreatic cancer. He is dual boarded in General Surgery and Complex General Surgical Oncology.

Thomas is the Chairman of the Scientific Review and Monitoring Committee for the UF Health Cancer Center as well as the director of the UF Health Cancer Center Microbiome Biorepository. He is the principal investigator on several grants investigating the role of the microbiome in pancreatic carcinogenesis within his laboratory at UF Health.

Additional Positions:
Chair, Scientific Review and Monitoring Committee
2022 – Current · UF Health Cancer Center
Director, Microbiome Biorepository
2021 – Current · UF Health Cancer Center

Teaching Profile

Courses Taught

  1. MDC7600 – Surgery Clerkship

    College of Medicine

  2. MDC7602 – Senior Surgery Clerk

    College of Medicine

  3. MDC6001 – Intro Clin Practice

    College of Medicine

Board Certifications

  • Complex General Surgical Oncology
    American Board of Surgery
  • General Surgery
    American Board of Surgery

Clinical Profile

Areas of Interest

  • Gastrointestinal Oncology Surgery
  • Pancreatic Cancer

Research Profile

For over 20 years I have investigated clinical and biologic factors associated with pancreatic carcinogenesis and currently I am focused on the role of the human microbiome in this disease process. My laboratory was one of the first to publish on the ability of the host microbiota to accelerate pancreatic carcinogenesis and we are currently investigating the interaction between microbiome and host immune system in pancreatic cancer progression as well as the microbial impact on the response of pancreatic cancer to chemotherapy.

Open Researcher and Contributor ID (ORCID)

0000-0001-9251-5543

Areas of Interest

  • Microbiome
  • Pancreatic Cancer Biology
  • Surgical Oncology

Publications

Academic Articles

Grants

  1. The Florida Summer Training in Research and Oncology for the Next Generation of Researchers (STRONGER) Program

    Active

    Role:
    Faculty
    Funding:
    NATL INST OF HLTH NCI

  2. UF Health Cancer Center Support Grant

    Active

    Role:
    Project Manager
    Funding:
    NATL INST OF HLTH NCI

  3. Microbiota-mediated enhancement of the anti-tumor effect of natural killer cells

    Role:
    Principal Investigator
    Funding:
    NATL INST OF HLTH NCI

  4. Intestinal Microbiota Associations with Toxicity and Outcomes in Patients with Pancreatic Cancer during Neoadjuvant Curative Treatment

    Role:
    Project Manager
    Funding:
    BRISTOL-MYERS SQUIBB FOUNDATION

  5. McJunkin Family Foundation – UFHCC

    Role:
    Principal Investigator
    Funding:
    UF FOUNDATION via MCJUNKIN FAMILY FOUNDATION

  6. The role of the microbiome on pancreatic carcinogenesis in a murine model

    Role:
    Principal Investigator
    Funding:
    AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY

  7. Role of Gram negative bacterial lipopolysaccharide in CXCR4-mediated pancreatic carcinogenesis

    Role:
    Principal Investigator
    Funding:
    ASSOC OF VA SURGEONS FOU

  8. UF Health Cancer Center Pilot Project Grants funded through the Florida Consortium of National Cancer Institute Centers Program

    Role:
    Project Manager
    Funding:
    UF HEALTH SHANDS HOSPITAL

  9. UF Health Cancer Center Bridge Seed Grant funded through the Florida Consortium of National Cancer Institute Centers Program

    Role:
    Project Manager
    Funding:
    UF HEALTH SHANDS HOSPITAL

  10. Research Startup

    Role:
    Principal Investigator
    Funding:
    FL CLINICAL PRACTICE ASSO

Education

  1. Fellow, Surgical Oncology

    The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

  2. Chief Resident, General Surgery

    University of Cincinnati

  3. General Surgery Resident

    University of Cincinnati

  4. MD

    Loyola University Chicago, Stritch School of Medicine (Maywood, IL)

  5. BS, Biology and Chemistry

    John Carroll University (Cleveland, OH)

Contact Details

Phones:
Business:
(352) 265-0535
Emails:
Business:
ryan.thomas.md@ufl.edu
Administrative Spec II:
Profile photo for Heather L Porter
Addresses:
Business Mailing:
PO Box 100109
 GAINESVILLE FL 32610
Business Street:
PO BOX 100109
DEPT OF SURGERY
 GAINESVILLE FL 326100109