Dr. Janice D Thomas

Professor
Kean University
914 High Mountain Road
United States of America
07417

Brief Biography:

I received my BS and MS in molecular biology and my PhD in cellular and molecular pharmacology. I have published manuscripts on antibiotic resistance, autophagy, and my latest first author paper in submission is focused on mTOR hyperactivity in breast and colon cancer.. I have been teaching undergraduate courses in genetics, anatomy and physiology, microbiology, molecular biology, tissue culture and bioinformatics at two state universities for many years. I have also been mentoring undergraduates in independent research. Additionally, I have been working as a Text Reviewer and Editor at Bedford/St. Martin's, W. H. Freeman & Co., and Worth Publishers and started a web-based business that employs editors and translators for scientific manuscripts at Pro-Scientific Editing International

Academic positions:

Biology Professor, Kean University, Union, NJ Biology Professor, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ

Research interests:

The main focus of my research is mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) activity in cancer. I have identified a protein that when overexpressed, results in mTOR hyperactivity in breast and colon cancer (manuscript in submission). I am also screening several drug collections from the National Cancer Institute for mTOR sensitivity in rapamycin resistant colon cancer cells.

What I think of the idea behind WebmedCentral:

It is getting harder to publish findings in top rated journals since they are looking for dramatic stories. The reviewers also ask for answers to many additional questions that might be impossible to answer resulting in published data that may be enhanced and not reproducible. I have also seen manuscripts published by the same labs with very controversial findings making it evident that politics are playing a role in what and who gets published in these journals. Webmed Central gives young scientists a place to publish their findings in a more friendly environment that will hopefully lead to more data with integrity. Additionally, this platform will provide the scientific community with large sums of information that can be quickly integrated into the work currently going on in the lab. The lack of interest young people have for scientific research today is disappointing. My students are currently screening drug collections for mTOR inhibitors in rapamycin sensitive cancer cells. The ability to publish their findings quickly in a forum like this will stimulate their desire to continue to participate in future projects.