Tom

Tom is a Professor and current Chair of the Department of Psychology at the College of Arts and Science. He previously served as Director of Graduate Studies for three terms. His research focuses on immunology and molecular mechanisms underlying autoimmune diseases, RNA biology, and neurodegenerative disorders.

Key research areas include T-cell differentiation pathways in juvenile idiopathic arthritis, RNA editing deficiencies in Alzheimer’s and multiple sclerosis, and cytokine signaling in inflammatory conditions. He has pioneered methods for mRNA synthesis from DNA templates and developed therapeutic approaches targeting IL-26 in cancer and graft-versus-host disease.

Tom’s recent work demonstrates how reduced Alu RNA editing contributes to neuroinflammation and viral pathogenesis. His interdisciplinary approach bridges immunology, neurology, and molecular biology to address complex disease mechanisms. Over 150 publications span immunotherapies, biomarker discovery, and gene regulation studies in autoimmune contexts.

His research has advanced understanding of cytokine networks in chronic inflammatory diseases and identified novel therapeutic targets for cancer and multiple sclerosis. Current efforts focus on translating RNA-based therapies into clinical applications.