Biology Department Faculty

Thomas Chiles

Professor and Deluca Chair of Biology

Vice Provost for Research & Academic Planning

Photo of Thomas Chiles

Thomas Chiles

Ph.D.

Contact

Higgins Hall 544B

Telephone: 617-552-0840

Email: thomas.chiles@bc.edu

Education

  • Ph.D., University of Florida

Research Interests

Global Public Health., Immunobiology

Lymphocyte Signaling and Metabolism

Department

Biology

Research

My research interests partner with the Global Observatory for Planetary Health at Boston College. Recent efforts have focused on air pollution and its impact on the global burden of human disease, notably in the states of India. I was a member (’15-’18) on the Commission of Pollution, Health, and Development in partnership with The Lancet, the Global Alliance on Health and Pollution, and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York. The Commission found that pollution is responsible for an estimated 9 million deaths per year and is closely linked to climate change, -threatening planetary health.  We have recently collaborated with colleagues on the Monaco Commission on Human Health and Ocean Pollution, which examined the links between ocean pollution and human health.  Currently, I am a member of an international group of scientists led by the Observatory and partners at Australia’s Minderoo Foundation and the Centre Scientifique de Monaco. This work is focused on the impact of plastics exposure on human and planetary health across the plastic life cycle. 

My laboratory has also held an interest in understanding how extrinsic signals influence B lymphocyte growth and survival. We have focused on investigating the regulation and function of D-type cyclins in splenic B-2 and peritoneal B-1a cells in response to B-cell antigen receptor engagement. Effort has also been directed toward investigating the bioenergetics underlying B-2 lymphocyte survival, specifically identifying signaling and nutrient energy metabolic pathways linked to IL-4 receptors.  The research makes use of 2D-NMR and mass spectrometry to elucidate in vivo metabolic pathways that support lymphocyte survival. Additional interests are directed toward developing nanosensors for multiplex detection of disease biomarkers.

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