Ronald Thomas

Dr. Ronald Thomas is a Professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Public Health at the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health & Human Longevity Science, University of California San Diego. His research focuses on clinical trials design, biostatistical analysis of longitudinal data, and software development for clinical trial management. He serves as a Co-Investigator in the Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study (NIH U19AG010483), contributing to large-scale trials evaluating interventions for Alzheimer's and related neurodegenerative conditions.

Key research areas include exercise-based interventions for mild cognitive impairment (EXERT trial), biomarker development for early Alzheimer's detection, and methodological innovations in clinical trial design. His work spans translational research, statistical methodology, and collaborative efforts across neurology, psychiatry, and public health disciplines. Dr. Thomas has led or co-authored over 150 peer-reviewed publications, with recent emphasis on exercise effects, imaging biomarkers, and trial recruitment strategies in Alzheimer's prevention studies.

His studies often involve multisite collaborations and emphasize rigorous statistical analysis to assess treatment efficacy and biomarker progression. Notable contributions include developing composite cognitive outcomes for clinical trials and evaluating safety/efficacy of novel therapeutic agents like Posiphen and ladostigil. Current projects focus on optimizing trial designs to account for pandemic-related disruptions and enhancing data sharing practices in preclinical Alzheimer's research.