Thomas R. Shannon

Thomas R. Shannon, DVM, PhD is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physiology & Biophysics at Rush Medical College, Rush University. His research focuses on the local control of excitation-contraction coupling in excitable cells, particularly cardiac and muscle cells, with an emphasis on sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) calcium storage and release mechanisms. Key areas include SR calcium buffering, ryanodine receptor phosphorylation, and pathological calcium regulation in heart failure.

Dr. Shannon's work explores how post-translational modifications of regulatory proteins affect SR calcium dynamics, aiming to develop SR-targeted therapeutics for cardiac diseases. His laboratory is internationally recognized for experimental expertise in calcium signaling, using biophysical, biochemical, and molecular approaches.

His 15 most recent publications (2003–2022) span topics including β-adrenergic calcium uptake mechanisms, SR ion concentration dynamics, and nitric oxide interactions in cardiac myocytes, reflecting his central role in calcium signaling and cardiac pathophysiology.

Dr. Shannon's affiliations include Rush University Medical Center and collaborations with leading researchers like D.M. Bers, E. Rios, and D. Gillespie. He is based in Chicago, IL, at the Jelke Building, 1750 W. Harrison St.