Thomas A. Panavelil, Ph.D., M.S., M.B.A.

Education:

• Senator Fulbright’s Fellow – National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland
• Research Scientist – Beckman Coulter Corporation
• Ph.D. Pharmacology – University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida
• M.Sc. – Biochemistry & Physiology - National Dairy Research Institute, India
• M.B.A. – Entrepreneurship Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Thomas Panavelil is a pharmacologist and a researcher and loves teaching and giving lectures in multiple areas of molecular medicine. Thomas grew up and lived in different regions of India and arrived in the US as a Senator Fulbright’s scholar. He spent ten years doing research at the National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Md., Miller School of Medicine at the University of Miami and as a Scientist at the Beckman Coulter Corporation.

Dr. Panavelil earned a BS degree in Chemistry from Christian College, Kerala, MS degree in Biochemistry & Physiology from National Dairy Research Institute in India, Doctorate degree in Molecular Pharmacology from the University of Miami and Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) from Nova Southeastern University.

At the National Cancer Institute, working with the co-discoverer of HIV Dr. Robert C. Gallo, he participated in vaccine trials against HIV/AIDS. His doctorate degree is in molecular pharmacology of muscle contraction where his mentor was Dr. James D. Potter, an expert in the field of cardiac and skeletal muscle contraction.

Dr. Panavelil authored & edited Lippincott’s Illustrated Reviews in Pharmacology (Wolters Kluwer, 2015), one of the best circulated reviews in the field of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. He is also a reviewer for “FIRST AID for the USMLE Step I (McGraw Hill, 2016). Dr. Panavelil is a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

Thomas played badminton at highly competitive levels in India and has umpired the matches of Atlanta Centennial Olympics. He also plays guitar for his church and for Indian Folk concerts and takes part in several community leadership roles. He also loves growing exotic varieties of fruit trees. He currently lives in Southwest Ranches in West Broward County, Florida with his wife and their three boys.

Current Areas of Academic Teaching

• Pharmacology
• Medicinal Physiology
• Microbiology
• Biochemistry

Research interest

• Molecular Mechanisms of Cardiac Muscle Contraction
• Molecular Mechanisms of HIV infection
• Pharmacotherapeutics