Thomas Tomasi

MD, PhD

About Thomas Tomasi

Biography:

Dr. Thomas Tomasi received his AB from Dartmouth College, with highest distinction, and his MD, cum laude, from the University of Vermont. He served as resident and chief-resident at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY. He received his Ph.D. from The Rockefeller University in 1965.

His faculty positions include: Chair of Experimental Medicine, University of Vermont; Buswell Professor and Director, Division of Immunology and Rheumatic Diseases; Professor of Medicine, State University of New York at Buffalo [SUNY-UB]; William H. Donner Professor and Chair of Immunology, Mayo Medical School; Distinguished University Professor and Chair of Cell Biology and Director of the University of New Mexico Cancer Center; President & CEO, Roswell Park Cancer Center [Roswell Park]. He is currently a Member and Professor at Roswell Park and Professor of Medicine and Microbiology and Immunology at SUNY-UB. Dr. Tomasi is a member of the Association of American Physicians and has been honored by the Michael Heidelberger Lectureship, Columbia University; Distinguished Alumni Award, UVM; Citizen of the Year Awards, Buffalo, NY; George F. Koepf Award, Hauptman-Woodward Research Institute; D'Youville College Health Achievement Award; Honorary Doctorate, State University of New York. He has served on a number of scientific editorial boards including: Journal of Immunology; Journal of Clinical Investigation; Journal of Medicine; Journal of Clinical Immunology and the Advisory Board for Critical Reviews in Immunology.

He served as a member of the Board of Trustees, Trudeau Institute for Medical Research, Saranac Lake, NY; Board of Directors, Western New York Technology Development Center, Inc.; Board of Trustees, Calspan/UB Research Center; and the Scientific Advisory Board, Guthrie Research Institute.

Dr. Tomasi has been a preceptor to 60 predoctoral and postdoctoral fellows.

Positions

Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center
  • Professor of Immunology
  • M&T Bank Endowed Chair in Cancer Research

School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo

  • Professor of Microbiology & Immunology
  • Professor of Medicine

Background

Education and Training:

  • 1965 - PhD - The Rockefeller University, New York
  • MD - University of Vermont
  • AB - Dartmouth College

Professional Memberships:

  • Association of American Physicians

Honors & Awards:

  • Michael Heidelberger Lectureship, Columbia University
  • Distinguished Alumni Award, UVM
  • Citizen of the Year Award, Buffalo, NY
  • George F. Koepf Award, Hauptman-Woodward Research Institute
  • D'Youville College Health Achievement Award
  • Honorary Doctorate, State University of New York

Research

Research Overview:

  • Development of epigenetic tumor vaccine.
  • Examining the pathways by which micro RNAs regulate immune genes.

Publications

Full Publications list on PubMed
  • Oshlag JZ, Devasthanam AS, Tomasi TB. Mild hyperthermia enhances the expression and induces oscillations in the Dicer protein. International j hyperthermia. 2013, 29(1): 51-61
  • Devasthanam AS and Tomasi TB. Dicer in immune cell development and function. Immunological investigations. 2014, 48(2): 182-195
  • Tomasi TB, Magner WJ, Wiesen JL, Oshlag JZ, Cao F, Pontikos AN, Gregorie CJ. MHC class II regulation by epigenetic agents and microRNAs. Immunologic research 2010; 46(1-3):45-58
  • Asirvatham AJ, Magner WJ, Tomasi TB. miRNA regulation of cytokine genes. Cytokine 2009; 45(2):58-69
  • Gregorie CJ, Wiesen JL, Magner WJ, Lin AW, Tomasi TB. Restoration of immune response gene induction in trophoblast tumor cells associated with cellular senescence. Journal of reproductive immunology 2009; 81(1):25-33
  • Wiesen JL, Tomasi TB. Dicer is regulated by cellular stresses and interferons. Molecular immunology 2009; 46(6):1222-1228
  • Asirvatham AJ, Gregorie CJ, Hu Z, Magner WJ, Tomasi TB. MicroRNA targets in immune genes and the Dicer/Argonaute and ARE machinery components. Molecular immunology 2008; 45(7):1995-2006
  • Chou SD, Tomasi TB. Spatial distribution of histone methylation during MHC class II expression. Molecular immunology 2008; 45(4):971-980
  • Khan AN, Gregorie CJ, Tomasi TB. Histone deacetylase inhibitors induce TAP, LMP, Tapasin genes and MHC class I antigen presentation by melanoma cells. Cancer immunology, immunotherapy: CII 2008; 57(5):647-654
  • Khan AN, Tomasi TB. Histone deacetylase regulation of immune gene expression in tumor cells. Immunologic research 2008; 40(2):164-178
  • Khan AN, Magner WJ, Tomasi TB. An epigenetic vaccine model active in the prevention and treatment of melanoma. Journal of translational medicine 2007;5:64