Paul Thomes

Dr. Paul Thomes serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology at Auburn University's College of Veterinary Medicine, having joined the institution in October 2023. His academic journey began with a BSc in Zoology from the University of Madras, followed by a Postgraduate Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology and MSc in Microbiology, culminating in a PhD focused on liver cancer phytotherapy from the same institution.

Dr. Thomes' research program centers on alcohol-induced organ damage, with particular emphasis on autophagy mechanisms within the gut-liver axis. His laboratory investigates how alcohol disrupts intestinal barrier function and lipid metabolism, employing both mouse models and human samples to explore FDA-approved drug repurposing for mitigating alcohol-related tissue injury. His work has been consistently funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIH/NIAAA).

Analysis of his publication record reveals sustained focus on autophagy dysregulation in alcoholic liver disease, with particular attention to lipid metabolism pathways, intestinal barrier integrity, and transcriptional regulation. His research bridges molecular mechanisms with translational applications, demonstrating expertise in cellular autophagy processes and their implications for steatosis development and resolution.

Dr. Thomes maintains active collaborations across multiple institutions, contributing significantly to autophagy methodology standardization as evidenced by his co-authorship of the widely cited 'Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy.' His work integrates cellular biology, metabolic research, and translational approaches to address alcohol-related organ damage.