Austen Thompson

Recent Graduate
College of Medicine – Tucson
Year Entered Program: 
2015
Grad Year: 
2022
Degrees Received: 
  • Ph.D - Medical Pharmacology, University of Arizona, 2020
  • M.S. - Physiological Sciences, University of Arizona, 2015
  • B.S. - Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Arizona, College of Science, 2012
  • B.S.H.S. - Physiology, University of Arizona, College of Medicine, 2012
Thesis Advisor: 
Todd Vanderah, PhD
Thesis Research: 

Elucidating the mechanisms of opiate-induced hyperalgesia and the metabolic effects of chronic opiate use on bone in models of traumatic and pathologic fracture, the interaction the immune system has in these models in response to chronic opiates, as well as use of cannabinoids and endocannabinoid modulators as analgesics to treat pathologic and traumatic fracture pain.

About Me: 

I am fairly active outside once outside the academic setting. My entire life I was a competitive swimmer and received a scholarship to come and swim for the University of Arizona during my undergraduate years. During my tenure I was a 7-time NCAA Division I All-American and I also won an individual National Title in the 400 Individual Medley. I am no longer involved in competitive swimming, but I still enjoy getting in the pool for a swim every once in a while. Outside the pool, I enjoy staying active whether I'm in the weight room, going for a run or hiking in the mountain ranges around Tucson. I enjoy being in the sun whenever possible. 

Honors & Awards: 

Academic Awards

  • Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Medical Honors Society
  • Hank Yamamura Travel Award - Society for Neuroscience
  • College of Medicine Travel Award  - Society of Abdominal Radiology National Meeting
  • Hank Yamamura Endowed Fellowship in Pharmacology
  • University of Arizona Graduate College Fellowship

Athletic Awards

  • NCAA Champion - 400 Individual Medley
  • Academic All-American, 2012
  • Pac-12 All-Academic Team, 2010-2012
  • NCAA First Team All-American, 2010-2012
  • University of Arizona Record Holder - 400 Individual Medley
  • Pac-12 Conference Record Holder - 400 Individual Medley
  • 2012 US Olympic Team Trials Finalist - 200 Individual Medley
Selected Publications: 

Moffett, C., Kost, K., Thompson, A.L., Ossipov, M.H., Pergolizzi, J.V., Umeda-Raffa, S., Raffa, R.B., Largent-Milnes, T.M., Vanderah, T.W. " Test of the Popular Benzodiazepine Alprazolam in a Positive Conditioned Place-Preference Model in Female Rats" Pharmacology and Pharmacy. Accepted. May 2021.

Moffett, C., Kost, K., Thompson, A.L., Ossipov, M.H., Pergolizzi, J.V., Umeda-Raffa, S., Raffa, R.B., Largent-Milnes, T.M., Vanderah, T.W. "The FDA Mandate to Reassess Benzodiazepines: Alprazolam Induces a Positive Conditioned Place-Preference in Male Rats" Journal of Biosciences and Medicine. 2021. 10.4236/jbm.2021.93001

Nisson, P.L., Meybodi, A.T., Berger, G.L., Thompson, A.L., Lawton, M.T. “Location-Based Outcome Analysis of Microsurgically Clipped Supratentorial Cerebral Aneurysms: A Single-Center Experience” Neurosurgery Open. Feb 5 2021. 10.1093/neuopn/okaa028

Stine, C., Flohrschutz, A.T., Coleman, D., Thompson, A.L., Mishra, S., Blagg, B.S., Largent-Milnes, T.M., Lei, W., and Streicher, J.M.  “Heat Shock Protein 90 Inhibitors Block Cancer Pain Management by Opioid Drugs in Mouse Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathy and Cancer Bone Pain Models” PAIN. April 10 2020. PMID: 32301839

Thompson, A.L., Grenald, S., Ciccone, H., BassiriRad, N., Niphikis, M., Crevatt, B., Largent-Milnes, T., Vanderah, T.W., “MAGL Inhibition Alleviates Pain in Murine Model of Cancer-Induced Bone Pain”. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. Feb 13 2020. PMID: 32054717

Thompson, A.L., Largent-Milnes, T.M., Vanderah, T.W. “Animal Models for the Study of Bone-Derived Pain” Methods Mol Bio. 2019;1914:391-407. PMID: 30729479  

Presentations/Abstracts

Thompson, A., Contreras, J.R., Sorenson, J., Lane, A.C., and Vanderah, T.W. Role of Opioids and Cannabinoids in a Murine Model of Bone Fracture. Oral Presentation. Western Medical Research Conference. Carmel, California. January, 2020.

Thompson, A., Moffett, C., Kost, K., Largent-Milnes, T., and Vanderah, T.W. Alprazolam Induced Reward and Withdrawal in a Rodent Model of Chronic Abuse. Poster. American Medical Association EXPO Research Symposium. San Diego, California. November 2019.

Thompson, A., Ciccone, H., Mohty, D., Smith, A., Contreras, A., Lane, A., Sorenson, J., Largent-Milnes, T.M., and Vanderah, T.W. Chronic opioids and cannabinoids in models of chronic pain and pathologic bone fracture. Poster. Society for Neuroscience National Meeting. Chicago, Illinois. October 2019

Smith, A., Thompson, A., Ciccone, H., Mohty, D., Largent-Milnes, T., and Vanderah, TW. Mechanisms of Opioid Induced TLR4 Signaling. Poster. University of Arizona Undergraduate Biology Research Program Annual Conference, Tucson, AZ. January 2019.

Ciccone, HA., Thompson, A., Smith, AF., Mohty, DM., Largent-Milnes, TM., and Vanderah, TW. Chronic Morphine Administration Causes Increased Bone Loss and Prolonged Pain in a Murine Breast Cancer Model. Poster. University of Arizona Undergraduate Biology Research Program Annual Conference, Tucson, AZ. January 2019.

Thompson, A., Grenald, S., Staatz, W., Ciccone, H., Crevatt, B., Largent-Milnes, T., Vanderah, T. MAGL inhibition attenuates cancer-induced bone pain. Poster. Society for Neuroscience National Meeting. San Diego, California. November 2018

Coleman, D., Staatz, W., Thompson, A., Grenald, S., Slosky, L., Largent-Milnes, T., Vanderah, T. Morphine Modulation of Canonical and Non-Canonical NF-kB Pathways. Poster presentation delivered at the University of Arizona Graduate and Professional Student Council Student Showcase Annual Conference, Tucson, AZ. February 2018.

Coleman, D., Thompson, A., Staatz, W., Largent-Milnes, T., Vanderah, T. Effects of Chronic and Acute Morphine Treatment on Nuclear Factor NF-kB. Poster presentation delivered at the University of Arizona Undergraduate Biology Research Program Annual Conference, Tucson, AZ. January 2018.

Austen Thompson MS, Iman Ghaderi MD, Ferenc Czeyda-Pommersheim MD, Arash Meshksar MD, Bobby Kalb MD, Joy Liau MD PhD, Hina Arif MD, Diego R. Martin MD PhD, James Costello MD PhD. Magnetic Resonance and Computed Tomography Imaging in the Accurate Diagnosis of Internal Hernias. Poster. Society of Abdominal Radiology National Meeting. Hollywood, Florida. 2017

Other Oral Presentations

“Perilunate Dislocations” Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Grand Rounds. University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ. May 5, 2021.

"Morphine-Induced Osteolysis and Hyperalgesia in Models of Traumatic and Pathologic Fracture and Potential for Cannabinoid-based Therapeutics" Doctoral Dissertation Final Oral Defense. University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ. Feb. 14 2020

“Opioids and Cannabinoids In Murine Models of Pathologic and Traumatic Fracture” Department of Pharmacology Seminar. University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ. Sept. 25 2019

“Morphine Osteolysis in Model of Cancer Induced Bone Pain” Department of Pharmacology Data Blitz. University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ. May 3, 2019.

“Effects of Chronic Opiates in Murine Models of Bone Pain” Department of Pharmacology Seminar Series. University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ. January 23, 2019.

“Cell Specific Targeting and its Therapeutic Potential in Polycystic Kidney Disease.” Masters of Science Thesis Defense. University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ. May 8, 2015.

“A Novel Heterobivalent Compound and its Implication in PKD.” Physiological Sciences Departmental Seminar. University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ. January 2015.