Bolaji Thomas Headshot

Bolaji Thomas

Professor

Biomedical Sciences Program
College of Health Sciences and Technology
bntsbi@rit.edu
585-475-6382
Office Location
CBT-3151

Bolaji Thomas

Professor

Biomedical Sciences Program
College of Health Sciences and Technology

Education

BS, MS, Ph.D., University of Lagos (Nigeria)

Bio

Dr. Thomas has received several awards including the American Association of Immunologists Undergraduate Faculty and Minority Scientist Travel Awards, The Wellcome Trust Travel Award, Marine Biological Laboratories Fellowship and UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Program for Research and Training in Tropical Medicine Travel awards. He is a member of several scientific societies including American Association of Immunologists, American Society for Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, and the Network of Minority Research Investigators. He is a Faculty Mentor for the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Maximizing Access to Research Careers (FASEB-MARC) program and a Board Member for Upstate Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation. He serves on several Editorial Boards and is an invited reviewer for several journals. 

bntsbi@rit.edu
585-475-6382
Areas of Expertise
Infectious Diseases
Leishmania
Malaria
Trypanosomiasis
Population Genetics
Sickle Cell Disease Immunology
Diversity and Regulation of Immune Response Genes

Select Scholarship

Journal Paper
Thomas, Bolaji N. "Whole Genome Sequencing of Rhodotorula Mucilaginosa Isolated from the Chewing Stick (Distemonanthus benthamianus): insights into Rhodotorula Phylogeny, Mitogenome Dynamics and Carotenoid Biosynthesis." PeerJ. (2917): e4030. Web.
Thomas, Bolaji N. "Genetic Diversity of CD14 Promoter Gene Polymorphism (rs2569190) is Associated With Regulation of Malaria Parasitemia and Susceptibility to Plasmodium falciparum Infection." Infectious Diseases: Research and Treatment. (2017): 1. Web.
Thomas, Bolaji N. "Ethanol Extract of Blighia Sapida Stem Bark Show Remarkable Prophylactic Activity in Experimental Plasmodium berghei-Infected Mice." Drug Target Insights 11. (2017): 1. Web.
Thakur, Tanya J., et al. "Endothelin-1 but not Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Gene Polymorphism is Associated with Sickle Cell Disease in Africa." Gene Regulation and Systems Biology 8. (2014): 119-126. Web.
Duru, Kimberley C. and Bolaji N. Thomas. "Genetic Diversity and Allelic Frequency of Glutamate-Rich Protein (GLURP) in Plasmodium Falciparum Isolates from Sub-Saharan Africa." Microbiology Insights 7. (2014): 35-39. Web.
Thomas, Bolaji N., et al. "Genomic Polymorphism of CD209 Gene is Associated with Sickle Cell Disease in African Children." The Journal of Immunology 192. Supplement 1 (2014): 53.1-53.1. Print.
Adefenwa, MA, et al. "Novel Intron 2 Polymorphism in the Melanophilin Gene is in Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium and not Associated with Coat Color." Open Journal of Genetics 3. (2013): 195-200. Web.
Thomas, BN and AF Fagbenro-Beyioku. "Loa Loa Microfilaremia in a Blood Donor-A Case Report." Case Reports in Clinical Medicine 2. 1 (2013): 46-47. Web.
Thomas, BN, et al. "Extensive Ethnogenomic Diversity of Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase (eNOS) Polymorphisms." Gene Regulation and Systems Biology 7. (2013): 1-10. Web.
Adefenwa, MA, et al. "Identification of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in the Agouti Signaling Protein (ASIP) Gene in Some Goat Breeds in Tropical and Temperate Climates." Molecular Biology Reports 40. 7 (2013): 4447-4457. Web.
Sanni, T, et al. "Molecular Diagnosis of Subclinical African Trypanosoma Vivax Infection and Association with Physiological Indices and Serum Metabolites in Extensively Managed Goats in the Tropics." Open Journal of Veterinary Medicine 3. (2013): 39-45. Web.
Thomas, Bojaji, et al. "Genetic Polymorphism of Plasmodium Falciparum Merozoite Surface Protein-1 and 2 and Diversity of Drug Resistance Genes in Blood Donors from Bamako, Mali." Infectious Diseases: Research and Treatment 6. (2012): 49-57. Print.
Thomas, Bolaji, D.A. Diallo, and J.M. Moulds. "Circulating Immune Complex Levels are Associated with Disease Severity and Seasonality in Children with Malaria from Mali." Biomarker Insights 7. (2012): 81-86. Print.
Isokpehi, Raphael D., et al. "Developmental Regulation of Genes Encoding Universal Stress Proteins in Schistosoma mansoni." Gene Regulation and Systems Biology 5. 0 (2011): 61-74. Web.
Published Conference Proceedings
Duru, Kimberley C., Jenelle A. Noble, and Bolaji N. Thomas. "Genomic Diversity of Complement Receptor 1 (CR1) Polymorphisms and Association with Sickle Cell Disease." Proceedings of the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students, San Antonio TX November 12-15, 2014. Ed. ASM. Washington DC, DC: American Society for Mibiology, 2014. Print.
Noble, Jenelle A., Kimberley C. Duru, and Bolaji N. Thomas. "Extensive Polymorphisms of CD209 (rs4804803) Gene Promoter in African but not American Sickle Cell Disease." Proceedings of the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students, San Antonio TX November 12-15, 2014. Ed. ASM. Washington DC, DC: ASM, 2014. Web.
Thomas, BN, et al. "Endothelin-1 but not Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Polymorphisms are Implicated in Sickle Cell Disease." Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the American Association for Immunologists. Ed. Pamela J. Fink. Bethesda, MD: American Association for Immunologists, 2013. Print.
Published Article
Chu N, BN Thomas, SR Patel , LU Buxbaum. “IgG1 ispathogenic in Leishmania mexicana infection.” Journal of Immunology, 185.11 (Dec 1 2010): 6939-46. Print. *

Currently Teaching

MEDS-290
Biomedical Research
1 - 4 Credits
This course provides an opportunity for in-depth experiential learning through collaborative work on an independent research project.
MEDS-421
Parasitology
3 Credits
Introduction to parasites of medical importance and the diseases they cause. It includes study of a variety of parasites classified by diseases such as blood and intestinal protozoan parasites, nematodes, trematodes, and cestodes. Examples of important parasitic diseases to be covered include malaria, sleeping sickness, elephantiasis, river blindness, leishmaniasis, amebic dysentery, and babesiosis. Coursework includes an examination of the distribution and transmission, pathogenesis, clinical signs and symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and control. Contribution of parasitic infections to economic and health inequities between developed and developing countries will be analyzed.
MEDS-430
Epidemiology
3 Credits
The course covers applications of epidemiology to the study of the distribution and determinants of health and diseases, morbidity, injuries, disability, and mortality in populations. Epidemiologic methods for the control of conditions such as infectious and chronic diseases, community and environmental health hazards, and unintentional injuries are discussed. Other topics include quantitative aspects of epidemiology, including data sources; measures of morbidity and mortality; evaluation of association and causality; and various study design methods. Contemporary topics in public health (e.g. swine flu, HIV/AIDS, SARS), outbreak investigation, and containment strategies will be examined, analyzed, and thoroughly discussed.
MEDS-510
Biomedical Research
1 - 4 Credits
This course provides an opportunity for in-depth experiential learning through collaborative work on an independent research project.
MEDS-530
Human Immunology
3 Credits
Introduction to the fundamental facts and concepts on immunology to include: innate and adaptive immunity; cells, molecules, tissues and organs of the immune "system"; cell communication and interaction; antibody structure and function; and the application of these concepts to infectious diseases, vaccine design, autoimmune diseases, cancer, transplantation, regulation of the immune response, allergic reactions and immunosuppression. Students will gain an understanding of immunological principles and techniques, and their application to contemporary research, with results from instructor’s research laboratory
MEDS-599
Independent Study
1 - 4 Credits
This course will provide students the opportunity for independent study in a topic of strong interest.
MEDS-630
Human Immunology
3 Credits
This graduate course in the Medical Illustration (MFA) program will provide an introduction to the fundamental facts and concepts on immunology to include: innate and adaptive immunity; cells, molecules, tissues and organs of the immune "system"; cell communication and interaction; antibody structure and function; and the application of these concepts to infectious diseases, vaccine design, autoimmune diseases, cancer, transplantation, regulation of the immune response, allergic reactions and immunosuppression. Students will gain an understanding of immunological principles and techniques, and their application to contemporary research, with results from instructor’s research laboratory.

In the News

  • November 3, 2023

    researcher wearing a white lab coat posing in a lab.

    RIT researcher looks for genetic switch to prevent ‘sleeping sickness’ in cattle

    RIT researcher Bolaji Thomas is leading a $650,000 study to compare the genetic response in cattle in sub-Saharan Africa to the parasitic disease Trypanosomiasis, or “sleeping sickness,” that attacks their blood and brain. As parasites adapt to a warming world, the biting fly that transmits Trypanosomiasis could someday migrate to northern climates.

  • January 31, 2022

    student using pipette as researcher looks on.

    Undergraduate research on the rise at RIT

    With the help of strong mentors, undergraduate researchers cultivate critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving skills. Conducting research can help students synthesize concepts they learned in their classes to create something new.

  • July 27, 2021

    two professors and student wearing lab coats looking at bacteria sample.

    Student researcher focuses on bacteria in Lake Ontario

    Marissa Schroeter’s summer undergraduate research explores a global health issue with a local twist. Her work prospects for new antibiotic compounds produced by two bacterial strains collected from Lake Ontario. She will present her findings at the RIT Undergraduate Research Symposium.

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