I graduated from University of Kansas (Lawrence Campus) in December 2002 with a B.S. in Organismal Biology. As an undergraduate, I did independent research on the role of magnetite on monarch butterfly migration. I also worked at the Monarch Watch where I helped study the migration, reproduction, and development of monarch butterflies. After getting my bachelor’s degree, I worked 3.5 years at the Shock Trauma Research Center at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Medical School where I aided in the development of treatments for hemorrhagic shock. I was then accepted into the graduate program at University of Kansas Medical School to pursue a PhD degree in Toxicology.
Research Interests
Currently I am working with Dr. Grace Guo studying colorectal cancer (CRC) pathogenesis. In 2007, CRC was the third most common type of cancer and the third leading cause of cancer related death in the United States (ACS). The improper regulation of bile acid homeostasis and the prevalence of the classic American high-fat diet have been highly implicated in contributing to the occurrence of CRC. Bile acids are detergent-like molecules required for the proper digestion and absorption of lipids and lipid-soluble vitamins. Bile acids are the endogenous ligands for farnesoid x receptor (FXR), a ligand-activated transcription factor belonging to the nuclear receptor superfamily. FXR is constitutively expressed in the liver and in the intestines and is essential in regulating bile acid homeostasis. Research demonstrates that mice lacking the expression of FXR have a higher incidence of CRC. My research goals are to elucidate the role of FXR in CRC. This research could provide a potential therapeutic target for improved diagnosis, prevention, and/or treatment of CRC.
Contact Information
Ann Thomas
Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutics
The University of Kansas Medical Center
MS1018
3901 Rainbow Blvd.
Kansas City, KS 66160
Phone: (913) 588-3089
Fax: (913) 588-7501
E-Mail: athomas5@kumc.edu
Updated 11/13/08
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The University of Kansas Medical Center