Nancy L. Thompson, Ph.D., is Professor Emerita (Research) of Medicine and Pathology & Laboratory Medicine in the Division of Biology and Medicine. Previous active research interests included cancer/injury related gene expression and molecular biomarkers. Dr. Thompson has been the PI of 2 Dept. of Education GAANN pre-doctoral training grants and Co-PI of an NIH Initiative to Maximize Student Development grant. She is currently involved in several professional development and volunteer programs in education.

Previous efforts in the Division of Hem-Onc, Dept. of Medicine at Rhode Island Hospital were focused on defining molecular mechanisms of neoplasia using hepatic model systems. Several major publications from the laboratory described TA1/E16/LAT-1, a highly conserved, integral membrane protein and light chain of the CD98 heterodimer. CD98- associated functions include amino acid transport, cell activation, and integrin activation. TuAg.1/pE4 is a cell surface glycoprotein member of the Nectin family originally discovered on the basis of its differential expression in rat liver cancer, but also expressed in colon and mammary carcinomas.
Brown University- based administrative and training projects completed or ongoing: 1) A grant from the National Postdoctoral Association for postdoc specific training in responsible conduct in research at Brown University; 2) initiatives to maximize diversity of predoctoral graduate students within the Division of Biology and Medicine at Brown University;3) Professional Development and Ethical Responsible Conduct in Research training for predoctoral students.

Past Funding

American Cancer Society/Brown University Institutional Grant IN-45-31, N.L. Thompson, Prin. Invest.; "Molecular cloning of a liver membrane oncofetal antigen", 8/89-6/91, total funds: $5,000.

Rhode Island Foundation, Grant 815, N.L. Thompson, Prin. Invest.; "Developmental expression of TGF-ß in early embryogenesis"; 2/91-1/92, 10% effort, total funds: $3,900.

American Cancer Society, Grant #CN-20, N.L. Thompson, Prin. Invest.; "Expression and cloning of TuAg.1, a novel liver oncofetal antigen", 7/90 - 12/92, $169,000; $72,536 annual direct costs.

Roger Williams Cancer Center, Developmental award from CORE Grant P30 CA13943, N. L. Thompson, Prin. Invest., "A Novel Liver Tumor-Associated Antigen", 5/93 - 4/94, 10% effort, total funds: $10,000.

National Institutes of Health, R01 CA4214, Douglas C. Hixson, Prin. Invest.; N.L. Thompson, Co-investigtor, 30-40% effort, "Molecular Determinants of Multicellular Organization", 4/1/89-5/31/98, direct costs 1993: $97,523.

American Cancer Society, #CN-20A, N. L. Thompson, Prin. Invest., "Cloning and Expression of a TuAg.1, A Novel Liver Membrane Oncofetal Antigen", 1/1/94 - 12/31/96, 40% effort, total funds: $223,000; direct costs for first year: $80,259.

Pfizer Central Research Division, Groton, CT. - Brown University Master's Degree Program. $6,000 in research support for teaching Cancer Biology course at Pfizer, Semester I (Fall), 1995.

Division of Orthopaedic Research, Dept. Othopaedics, Brown Univ., $5,000 for expendables and 20% Research Assistant (S. Karr) salary support for collaborative studies with N. Thompson: "TGF-ß expression during ischemia-reperfusion injury", 1996-97.

George Oncology Funds - Interim salary and laboratory support 1997-1998 while NIH grants were pending.

National Institutes of Health, RO1 NS-27601-06, "Choroid Plexus - CSF, Growth Factors, Age & Injury", Conrad Johanson, Ph.D., Dept. Neurosurgery, RIH, Prin. Invest.; 08/01/95-07/31/98; N.L. Thompson, Investigator, 5% effort - 5% salary support, total funds: $603,000, direct costs first year: $142,258.

National Institutes of Health, RO1 CA42714, "Molecular Determinants of Multicellular Organization", Douglas C. Hixson, Dept. Med. Oncol., RIH, Prin. Invest.; N.L. Thompson, Co-investigator, 25% effort - 25% salary support 12/98 - 11/00,; total funds $624,508; direct costs first year approx. $137,420.

U.S. Dept. Education P200A000117, GAANN Training Grant, "Ph.D. Training in Pathobiology of Infectious Disease and Host Response," N.L. Thompson, PI, 8/15/2000 – 8/14/03, 20% effort through 2003, direct costs $153,000/yr; no cost extension to 8/04.

American Institute for Cancer Research, 02A127, "Amino Acid Regulated Gene Expression in Tumorigenesis" N.L. Thompson, PI, 7/31/02 – 6/30/05, 15% effort, $134,758 total costs.

National Institutes of Health, 1RO1 CA73611, "Expression and Role of TA1 Oncofetal Gene in Liver Cancer", N.L. Thompson, P.I. 40% effort - 40% salary support; 04/01/99-01/31/05, first year direct costs $170,929; no cost extension to 9/30/05; (no renewal appl.).

American Cancer Society CRTG CEE-103542 "Interaction of MUC1 Protein with E-cadherin and ß-catenin in Breast Cancer." (M. Chung, PI), N. L. Thompson, Basic Science Mentor, 7/01/02 – 7/01/05, 5% effort.

National Institutes of Health, T32 ES007272, "Training in Environmental Pathology", 7/1/03 – 6/30/07, (A. Kane, PI), N.L. Thompson, Faculty Trainer and Steering Committee, 0% effort; (NT withdrew as faculty trainer 2004).

National Institutes of Health, 2 R01 HD035831, "Nutritional Regulation of Fetal Liver Development", 12/1/03 - 11/30/08, (P. Gruppuso, PI) N.L. Thompson, co-investigator, 5% effort, withdrew 1/06.

NIH 1 F30 ES013639-01, "Microarray Discovery of Hepatic Biomarkers" (NRSA Fellow-ship), Current year $46,018, 9/01/04 – 8/31/09. (PI. B. Lau), N. Thompson, initial faculty sponsor. (NT helped this MD/PhD student transfer to another lab/sponsor for PhD work).

NIH National Center for Research Resources 1 P20 RR17695-01 (P.I. Hixson) N. Thompson 25% effort as Deputy Director, "Center for Cancer Research Development" 9/30/02-8/31/07, Yr. 1 Direct Costs $1,554,248.

U.S. Dept. Education P200A030100, GAANN Training Grant, "Ph.D. Training in Pathobiology of Infectious Disease and Host Response," N.L. Thompson, PI, 8/15/03 – 8/14/07.

National Postdoc Association. "Bringing Home RCR" Seed grant award to Brown University; N. L. Thompson, Principle Investigator; 2007-08.

Erickson, B. Thompson, N.L. and Hixson, D.C. Tightly regulated induction of the adhesion molecule necl-5/CD155 during rat liver regeneration and acute liver injury. Hepatology 43:325-334, 2006

Storey, B.T., Fugere, C., Lesieur-Brooks, A., Vaslet, C. and Thompson, N.L. Adenoviral modulation of the tumor-associated system L amino acid transporter, LAT1, alters amino acid transport, cell growth and 4F2/CD98 expression in cultured hepatic cells. Int. J. Cancer, 117:387-397, 2005.

Padbury, J.F., Diah, S.K., McGonnigal, Miller, C., Fugere, C., Kuzniar, M. and Thompson, N.L. Transcriptional regulation of the LAT-1/CD98 light chain. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 318:529-534, 2004.

Campbell, W.A., and Thompson, N.L. Overexpression of LAT-1/CD98 light chain is sufficient to increase system L amino acid transport activity in mouse hepatocytes but not fibroblasts. J. Biol. Chem. 276:16877-16884, 2001.

Diah, S.K., Padbury, J.F., Campbell, W.A., Britt, D., and Thompson, N.L. Molecular cloning of the rat TA1/LAT-1/CD98 light chain gene promoter. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta 1518:267-270, 2001.

Campbell, W. A., Sah, D.E., Albina J.E., Coleman, W.B., and Thompson, N.L. TA1/LAT-1/CD98 light chain and system L activity, but not 4F2/CD98 heavy chain, respond to arginine availability in rat hepatic cells: loss of response in tumor cells. J. Biol. Chem., 275:5347-5354, 2000.

Shultz, V.D., Campbell, W., Karr, S., Hixson, D.C. and Thompson, N.L. TA1 oncofetal rat liver cDNA and putative amino acid permease: temporal correlation with c-myc during acute CCL4 liver injury and variation of RNA levels in response to amino acids in hepatocyte cultures. Toxicol. Appl. Pharm. 154:84-96, 1999.

Liu, J., Pan, J., Naik, S., Santiangini, H., Trenkler, D., Thompson, N., Rifai, A., Chowdhury, J. R. and Jauregui, H. Characterization and evaluation of detoxification functions of a nontumorigenic immortalized porcine hepatoctye cell line (HepLiu). Cell Transplantation 8:219-232, 1999.

Mannion, B.A., Kolesnikova, T.V., Lin, S.H., Wang, S., Thompson, N.L., and Hemler, M.E. The light chain of CD98 is identified as E16/TA1 Protein. J. Biol. Chem. 273, 33127-33129, 1998.

Shultz, V.D., Degli Esposti, S., Panzica, M.A., Abraham, A., Finch, P. and Thompson, N.L. Expression of TA1, a rat oncofetal cDNA with homology to transport-associated genes, in carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury. Pathobiology, 65:14-25, 1997.

Lim, Y.P., Fowler, L.C., Hixson, D.C., Wehbe, T. and Thompson, N.L. TuAg.1 is the liver isoform of the rat colon tumor-associated antigen, pE4, and a member of the immunoglobulin-like supergene family. Cancer Res., 56:3934-3940, 1996.

Knuckey, N.W., Finch, P., Palm, D.E., Primiano, M.J., Johanson, C., Flanders, K.C. and Thompson, N.L. Differential neuronal expression of transforming growth factor ß isoforms following transient forebrain ischemia. Mol. Brain Res., 40:1-14, 1996.

Chapman, L., Sang, J., Lin, S.H., Hixson, D.C. and Thompson, N.L. Cloning of cDNAs from a mammalian expression library by a direct selection - amplification method. Mol. Biotech., 5:77-83, 1996.

Wolf, D.A., Panzica, M.A., Wang, S., Bassily, N.H. and Thompson, N.L. Expression of a highly conserved oncofetal gene, TA1/E16, in human colon carcinoma and other primary tumors: homology to S. mansoni amino acid permease and C. elegans gene products. Cancer Res. 56:5012-5022, 1996.

Sang, J., Lim, Y.-P., Panzica, M., Finch, P. and Thompson, N.L. TA1, a highly conserved oncofetal cDNA from rat hepatoma encodes an integral membrane protein associated with liver development, carcinogenesis and cell activation. Cancer Res., 55:1152-1159, 1995.

Pinar, M.H., Thompson, N.L., Flanders, K.C. and Rogers, B.B. Spatiotemporal distribution of TGF-ß1, TGF-ß2 and TGF-ß1 precursor in human embryonic development. Cell Vision, 1:200-207, 1994.

Thompson, N.L., Lin, S-H., Panzica, M.A. and Hixson, D.C. Cell CAM 105 isoform RNA expression is differentially regulated during rat liver regeneration and carcinogenesis. Pathobiology, 62:209-220, 1994.

Sang, J. and Thompson, N.L. An efficient procedure for obtaining long cDNA clones from phage library screening. BioTechniques, 17(3):446-451, 1994.

Niles, R.M., Thompson, N.L. and Fenton, F.: Expression of TGF-ß during in vitro differentiation of hamster tracheal epithelial cells. In Vitro Cell. Dev. Biol., 30A:256-262, 1994.

Lim, Y-P., Callanan, H., Lin, S-H., Thompson, N.L. & Hixson, D.C.: Preparative mini slab gel continuous elution electrophoresis: application for the isolation of proteins associated with the rat hepatocyte cell adhesion molecule, cell CAM 105. Anal. Biochem., 214:156-164, 1993.

Cheung, P.H., Culic, O., Qui, Y., Earley, K., Thompson, N., Hixson, D.C. and Lin, S-H.: The cytoplasmic domain of C-CAM is required for C-CAM mediated adhesion function: studies of a C-CAM transcript containing an unspliced intron. Biochem. J., 295:427-435, 1993.

Thompson, N.L., Panzica, M.A., Hull, G., Lin,S-H, Curran,T.R., Gruppuso, P.A.,Baum, O., Reutter, W. and Hixson, D.C.: Spatiotemporal expression of two cell-cell adhesion molecule 105 isoforms during liver development. Cell Growth and Different., 4:257-268, 1993.

Cheung, P.H., Thompson, N.L., Earley, K., Culic, O., Hixson, D, and Lin, S.-H.: Cell-CAM 105 isoforms with different adhesion functions are co-expressed in adult rat tissues and during liver development. J. Biol. Chem., 268:6139-6146, 1993.

Pinar, H., Thompson, N.L., Flanders, K.C., Sporn, M.B., Sung, J. and Rogers, B.B.: Distribution of transforming growth factor beta in a two week human embryo. Growth Factors, 6:203-208, 1992.

Thompson, N.L., Hixson, D.C., Callanan, H., Panzica, M., Flanagan, D., Faris, R.A., Hong, W., Hartel-Schenk, S. and Doyle, D.: A Fischer rat substrain deficient in dipeptidyl peptidase IV activity makes normal steady state RNA levels and an altered protein: use as a liver cell transplantation model. Biochem. J., 273:497-502, 1991.

Casscells, W., Bazoberry, F., Speir, E., Thompson, N., Flanders, K., Kondaiah, P., Ferrans, V.J., Epstein, S.E. and Sporn, M.B.: Transforming growth factor -ß1 in normal heart and in myocardial infarction. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 593:148-160, 1990.

Sieweke, M.H., Thompson, N.L., Sporn, M.B. and Bissell, M.J.: TGF-beta is a mediator of wound related Rous sarcoma virus tumorigenesis. Science, 248:1656-1660, 1990.

Faris, R.A., McEntire, K.D., Thompson, N.L. and Hixson, D.C.: Identification and characterization of a novel hepatic oncofetal membrane glycoprotein. Cancer Res., 50:4755-4763, 1990.

Hixson, D.C., Faris, R.A. and Thompson, N.L.: An antigenic portrait of the liver during carcinogenesis. Pathobiology, 58:65-77, 1990.

Van Obberghen-Schilling, E., Thompson, N.L., Flanders, K.C., Sporn, M.B., Lambert, P.F. and Baker, C.C.: Transforming growth factor ß expression in fibropapillomas induced by bovine papillomavirus type 1, in normal bovine skin, and in BPV-1 transformed cells. Growth Factors, 2:111-121, 1990.

Thompson, N.L., Flanders, K.C., Smith, J.M., Ellingsworth, L.R., Roberts, A.B., and Sporn, M.B.: Expression of TGF ß1 in specific cells and tissues of adult and neonatal mice. J. Cell Biol., 108:661-669, 1989.

Flanders, K.C., Thompson, N.L., Cissel, D.S., Van Obberglen-Schilling, E., Baker, C.C., Kass, M.E., Ellingsworth, L.R., Roberts, A.B., and Sporn, M.B.: Transforming growth factor ß1: histochemical localization with antibodies to different epitopes. J. Cell Biol., 108:653-660, 1989.

Wakefield, L.M., Thompson, N.L., Flanders, K.C., O'Connor-McCourt, M.D., and Sporn, M.B.: Transforming growth factor-beta: multifunctional regulator of cell growth and phenotype. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 551:290-298, 1989.

Lafyatis, R., Thompson, N.L., Remmers, E.F., Flanders, K.C., Roche, N.S., Kim, S-J., Case, J.P., Sporn, M.B., Roberts, A.B. and Wilder, R.L.: Transforming growth factor ß production by synovial tissues from rheumatoid patients and Streptococcal cell wall arthritic rats. J. Immunol., 143:1142-1148, 1989.

Thompson, N.L., Bazoberry, F., Speir, E.H., Casscells, W., Ferrans, V.J., Flanders, K.C., Kondaiah, P., Geiser, A.G., and Sporn, M.B.: Transforming growth factor beta-1 in acute myocardial infarction in rats. Growth Factors, 1:91-98, 1988.

Roberts, A.B., Thompson, N.L., Flanders, K.C., Wilder, R.L, and Sporn, M.B.: Transforming growth factor-beta: possible roles in carcinogenesis. Br. J. Cancer, 57: 594-600, 1988.

Jakowlew, S.B., Kondaiah, P., Flanders, K.C., Thompson, N.L., Dillard, P.J., Sporn, M.B., and Roberts, A.B.: Increased expression of growth factor mRNAs accompanies viral transformation of rodent cells. Oncogene Res., 2: 135-148, 1988.

Braun, L., Goyette, M., Yaswen, P., Thompson, N.L., and Fausto, N.: Liver epithelial cells from carcinogen treated rats: Growth in culture and tumorigenicity after transfection with the ras oncogene. Cancer Res., 47: 4116-4124, 1987.

Thompson, N.L., Mead, J.E., Braun, L., Goyette, M., Shank, P.R., and Fausto, N.: Sequential proto-oncogene expression during liver regeneration. Cancer Res., 46: 3111-3117, 1986.

Sigma Xi

• Sigma Xi Scientific Honorary

• American Society for Cell Biology (currently non-active)

• American Association for Advancement of Science

• American Society for Microbiology

• American Association for Cancer Research

• American Society for Investigative Pathology

BROWN UNIVERSITY TEACHING ROLES

2006- 2010: Training Director for Introduction to Responsible Conduct in Research training for entering graduate students in Division of Biology and Medicine.

2008- 2010: Faculty Trainer for skill-based Training Module on "Professionalism:looking and acting the part"

Director, Graduate Program in Pathobiology July, 1999-June, '03
Co-Director, Graduate Program in Pathobiology 1994-95
Steering Committee Member 1999-2005

As Director and Steering Committee member: Major responsibility for planning and directing an interdisciplinary graduate program focusing on disease mechanisms consisting of over 40 faculty members (both campus and hospital-based), 47 graduate students and several postdoctoral fellows. This is the second largest Brown Biomedical graduate program.

Courses

Course Leader:
BioMed 129 (Cancer Biology) 1991-1997

BioMed 129A (Cancer Biology, offered at Pfizer, Inc., Groton, CT) Fall, 1995

Dr. Thompson was responsible for design and execution of Cancer Biology, a cutting-edge lecture and discussion format covering selected areas of intensive research focus in the field and participating faculty labs. Open to advanced undergraduates and graduate students.

Introduction to Responsible Conduct in Research, 2006- Present
Training for entering graduate students in the Division of Biology and Medicine.

BioMed 284, (Topics in Pathobiology, Cell Adhesion and Disease) Spring, 2003
Co-Course leader of graduate seminar course with 10 students.

Course Lecturer:
BioMed 283 (Molecular Basis of Disease) 1992, 1994
BioMed 284 (Experimental Carcinogenesis) 1993
BioMed 285 (Intro. to Pathobiology Program Faculty Research) 1992-present
Brown Summer Studies Course in DNA 1993
BioMed 227 (Protein Trafficking and Processing) 1996
Methods of Clinical Investigation (for Pulmonary Residents) 1999
BioMed 129A (Cancer Biology, offered at Pfizer, Inc., Groton, CT) 2002
BioMed 129 (Cancer Biology, Brown campus section) 1988-2004
Brown Summer Studies "So you want to be a Doctor?" (cancer) July 7, 2005