Paul R Thompson

Paul R Thompson, PhD, is a Professor and Endowed Chair in Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology II at UMass Chan Medical School. He holds multiple affiliations, including the T.H. Chan School of Medicine (Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology and NeuroNexus Institute) and Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (programs in Biochemistry, Biophysical Chemistry, Cancer Biology, Immunology, and others). His research bridges enzymology, molecular biology, and therapeutic development.

He earned a BS and PhD in Biochemistry from McMaster University, Canada.

Thompson's research focuses on protein citrullination, peptidylarginine deiminase (PAD) enzymes, and their roles in disease. Key interests include:

• Mechanisms of PAD2/PAD4 in inflammation, thrombosis, and neurodegeneration
• Development of enzyme inhibitors (e.g., PAD, STING, SARM1) for sepsis, cancer, and autoimmune diseases
• Citrullination's impact on immune responses, extracellular traps, and epigenetics

His recent articles (2023-2025) emphasize PAD enzyme mechanisms, inhibitor design, and applications in neurodegeneration (ALS), sepsis, cancer immunotherapy, and viral infections. Trends include high-throughput screening for therapeutics and exploring phase transitions in enzyme activation.

Thompson leads interdisciplinary teams studying enzyme kinetics, structural biology, and disease models. His lab focuses on translational outcomes, including novel inhibitors for clinical applications.