Neal Thomas

Neal Thomas, MD, MSc, is a Professor at Penn State College of Medicine, holding appointments in both the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Critical Care Medicine, and the Department of Public Health Sciences. He serves as Associate Dean for Clinical Research and is affiliated with the Penn State Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI), Center for Cannabis and Natural Product Pharmaceuticals (CCNPP), and Pediatric Cardiovascular Research Center. Dr. Thomas has held leadership roles in the Pediatric Acute Lung Injury and Sepsis Investigators (PALISI) Network, including Chair (2020–present) and Vice-Chair (2018–2020), and was a key organizer of the Pediatric Acute Lung Injury Consensus Conference (2012–2015).

• Education: MD, MSc

Dr. Thomas specializes in clinical research involving critically ill children, with a focus on pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (PARDS), pediatric sepsis, and septic shock. His work spans genetic studies of surfactant protein variants, acute kidney injury in proteinuric children, and neurobehavioral outcomes after traumatic brain injury. He has led NIH- and FDA-funded clinical trials and contributed to over 300 peer-reviewed publications.

The 15 most recent articles reflect his expertise in pediatric critical care. Key themes include PARDS, sepsis, congenital heart surgery outcomes, traumatic brain injury recovery, and acute kidney injury epidemiology. His studies employ multicenter registries, randomized trials, and longitudinal frameworks to address clinical challenges in underweight/obese children and leukemia/HCT recipients.

Grants & Projects:

• NIH, FDA, and foundation-funded trials (e.g., Calfactant for ALI in pediatric leukemia patients)
• Research on surfactant protein-A genetic variants and lung host defense

Labs & Collaborations: Dr. Thomas collaborates with the Pediatric Cardiovascular Research Center and leads initiatives through the PALISI Network, which has produced over 200 publications. His work intersects with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to health and well-being.