Dafydd Thomas Ph.D.

Dynamic and innovative biological scientist with extensive expertise in oncology, recognized for leading large-scale, high-impact research initiatives. Proven success in employing diverse methodologies within collaborative environments to address complex scientific questions. Combines strong industry acumen with a solid educational foundation to develop novel concepts, rigorously test theories, and translate ideas into actionable outcomes. Committed to advancing scientific knowledge and contributing to breakthroughs that enhance patient care and treatment options.

Publications

• Puzio-Kuter, A. M., Xu, L., McBrayer, K. M., Dominique, R., Li, H. H., Fahr, B. J., Brown, A. M., Wiebesiek, A. E., Russo, B. M., Mulligan, C. L., Yang, H., Battaglia, J., Robell, K. A., Thomas, D. H., Huang, K.-S., Solovyov, A., Greenbaum, B. D., Oliner, J. D., Davis, T. W., Poyurovsky, M. V. (2025). Restoration of the tumor suppressor function of Y220C-mutant p53 by rezatapot, a small-molecule reactivator. Cancer Discovery, 15(6), 1159–1179.
• Hasselluhn, M. C., Decker-Farrell, A. R., Vlahos, L., Thomas, D. H., Curiel-Garcia, A., Maurer, H. C., Wasko, U. N., Tomassoni, L., Sastra, S. A., Palermo, C. F., Dalton, T. C., Ma, A. L., Li, F., Tolosa, E. J., Hibshoosh, H., Fernandez-Zapico, M. E., Muir, A., Califano, A., & Olive, K. P. (2024). Tumor explants elucidate a cascade of paracrine SHH, WNT, and VEGF signals driving pancreatic cancer angiosuppression. Cancer Discovery, 14(2), 348–361.
• Rhim, A. D., Oberstein, P. E., Thomas, D. H.*, Mirek, E. T., Palermo, C. F., Sastra, S. A., Dekleva, E. N., Saunders, T., Becerra, C. P., Tattersall, I. W., Westphalen, B. C., Kitajewski, J., Fernández-Barrena, M. G., Fernández-Zapico, M. E., Iacobuzio-Donahue, C. A., Olive, K. P., & Stanger, B. Z. (2014). Stromal elements act to restrain, rather than support, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Cancer Cell, 25(6), 735–747. (*Denotes equal contribution)
• Thomas, D. H., Getz, T. M., Newman, T. N., Dangelmaier, C. A., Carpino, N., Kunapuli, S. P., Tsygankov, A. Y., & Daniel, J. L. (2010). A novel histidine tyrosine phosphatase, TULA-2, associates with Syk and negatively regulates GPVI signaling in platelets. Blood, 116(14), 2570–2578
• Mayanglambam, A., Dangelmaier, C. A., Thomas, D. H., Damodar Reddy, C., Daniel, J. L., & Kunapuli, S. P. (2010). Curcumin inhibits GPVI-mediated platelet activation by interfering with the kinase activity of Syk and the subsequent activation of PLCγ2. Platelets, 21(3), 211–220.
• Jin, J., Mao, Y., Thomas, D. H., Kim, S., Daniel, J. L., & Kunapuli, S. P. (2009). RhoA downstream of G(q) and G(12/13) pathways regulates protease-activated receptor–mediated dense granule release in platelets. Biochemical Pharmacology, 77(5), 835–844.

Oral Communications

• XXII Congress of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Boston, Massachusetts. c-Cbl negatively regulates platelet GPVI signaling via an interaction with the histidine phosphatase TULA-2 and Syk, 2009
• 38th Annual Philadelphia Workshop on Hemostasis, Thrombosis, and Atherosclerosis, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A Novel Histidine Tyrosine Phosphatase, TULA-2, Associates with Syk and Negatively Regulates GPVI Signaling in Platelets, 2009
• Poster Presentations
• American Association for Cancer Research, Annual Meeting, Chicago, Illinois. A novel, potent DNA polymerase theta inhibitor, QX-001280, demonstrates anti-tumor activity in combination with a PARP1 inhibitor. 2025
• American Association for Cancer Research, Annual Meeting, Chicago, Illinois. QX-001352 is a novel and specific inhibitor of PARG with potentially BIC in vitro and in vivo anti-tumor efficacy. 2025
• American Association for Cancer Research, Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A multifaceted role of the Hedgehog pathway in modulating Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma biology, 2015
• Pancreatic Cancer: Innovations in Research and Treatment, New Orleans, Louisiana. Mechanism of Hedgehog-mediated stromal desmoplasia in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma, 2014
• American Society of Hematology, San Francisco, California. A Novel Histidine Tyrosine Phosphatase, TULA-2, Associates with Syk and Negatively Regulates GPVI Signaling in Platelets, 2008

AACR, Scholar in Training Award Recipient, 2015, 

Poster Presentation Winner, Pancreatic Cancer: Innovations in Research and Treatment Meeting, AACR, 2014, 

Poster Presentation Winner, Mid-Atlantic Pharmacology Society, 2009, 

ASH Travel Award Recipient, 2008