Seminar Series: Dr. Raymond Thomas

Lipid Bioinformatics applications in environmental stress biology, brain health, pediatric health, and food systems assessments.

Raymond Thomas

Professor,  Director and Western Research Chair
Biology Department
Western University

Short Biography:
Dr. Raymond Thomas is a Professor, Director and Western Research Chair in the Biology Department at Western University. His research focuses on two primary areas: lipid metabolism and food systems, with particular emphasis on their applications in northern and boreal climates. Dr. Thomas's work combines sophisticated lipidomics methods with innovative food system approaches to address challenges in human health, plant stress biology, and sustainable agriculture.

Dr. Thomas's research integrates multiple disciplines through his work at the Biotron facility and his laboratory in the North Campus Building. His investigations span from fundamental lipid metabolism studies to practical applications in resolving issues in functional or nootropic foods innovation and environmental stress biology. He has pioneered work in neurolipidomics , resilient food systems, and nootropic food innovation and validation, while also developing novel methodologies for lipid chemical imaging and chemometrics. His food systems research emphasizes sustainable and circular approaches, particularly focused on supporting rural, coastal, remote, and indigenous communities.

Dr. Thomas holds a Ph.D. in Biology from Western University, following a Master of Science in Horticulture from the University of Minnesota and a Bachelor of Science (Honors) in Agriculture from Lincoln University. His expertise is further enhanced by specialized certifications in Project Management, Cellular Imaging of Lipids from the European Molecular Biology Organization, and Advanced Bioinformatics training from the European Bioinformatics Institute at the University of Cambridge.

Abstract:
Lipid bioinformatics is an emerging area in multi omics research that can give unique biological insights into how lipid metabolism influence cell signaling, disease outcomes and organism response to environmental stressors. This talk will show applications of lipid bioinformatics to discern the dynamic role of the lipidome in mediating plant response to various environmental stressors, brain, and pediatric health outcome. We hope after the presentation; there will be greater appreciation of how lipid bioinformatics can be used to better understand complex biological systems and the mechanisms or pathways that governs them to provide specific observed phenotypes.

Learn more about Dr. Thomas:
Website

Date: Friday, October 10
Time: 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm
Location: PHFM 3015 (Western Centre for Public Health and Family Medicine) or Zoom (request link by email    epibio@uwo.ca)