Education

PhD. Physiology (1971), University of California-Davis

Research Interests

Animal Biochemistry
Dr. Thompson’s recent work includes characterization of branched chain amino acid, methionine and glutamine metabolism in skeletal muscles from mammalian and avian species and determination of the regulation of skeletal muscle protein turnover by glutamine, ketone bodies and environmental temperature.  Currently he is exploring the response of large animals to stressors.

Research Projects

The metabolic responses of animals to stressors.  Currently emphasis is being placed on dairy cattle as an experimental model animal. 

Teaching

New senior undergraduate/graduate student course under  development;  Biochemical and physiological mechanisms of animal responses to stressors 

Publications

Samuels, S.E., T.A. McAllister, and J.R. Thompson 2000. Skeletal and cardiac muscle protein turnover during long-term exposure to high environmental temperatures in young rats. Can. J. Phys. Pharm. 78: 557-564.

McAllister, T. A., J.R. Thompson and S.E. Samuels, 2000. Skeletal and cardiac muscle protein turnover during cold acclimation in young rats.  Am. J. Physiol. 278: R705-R711.

Zhou, X. and J.R. Thompson 1997. Regulation of protein turnover by glutamine in heat shocked skeletal myotubes. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta. 1357: 234-242.  

Zhou, X. and J.R. Thompson 1996.  Regulation of glutamate dehydrogenase by branched-chain amino acids in skeletal muscle from rats and chicks.  Intl. J. Biochem. & Cell Biol. 78: 787-793.

Samuels, S.E., J.R. Thompson and R.J. Christopherson  1996.  Skeletal and cardiac muscle protein turnover during short-term cold exposure and rewarming in young rats.  Am. J. Physiol. 270: R1231-R1237.         

Okine, E.K., D.R. Glimm, J.R. Thompson and J.J. Kennelly, 1995.  Influence of stage of lactation on glucose and glutamine metabolism in isolated enterocytes from dairy cattle.  Metabolism 44: 325-331.

He, P., F.X. Aherne, A.L. Schaefer, J.R. Thompson, T.Nakano, and S.D.M. Jones, 1994.  Differentiation of the effects of somatropin and enhanced growth rate on the occurrence of osteochondrosis in pigs.  Can. J. Anim. Sci. 74: 251-255.         

Scott, S.L., R.J. Christopherson, J.R. Thompson and V.E. Baracos, 1993.  The effect of a cold environment on protein and energy metabolism in calves.  British Journal of Nutrition 69: 127-139.  

Activities at the Faculty of Graduate Studies

Dr. Thompson’s role is two-fold: first, in coordinating all activities of Graduate Council, including ensuring the passage of Council policies and procedures to Senate and from there to implementation; and second, in ensuring the quality and integrity of graduate programs by putting in place a rigorous and systematic procedure for the review of all UBC graduate programs. In this latter role, Dr. Thompson’s aim is to improve the quality of graduate education in support of UBC’s vision to become one of the top research-intensive universities in North America . 

Additional Activities

• Chair, Faculty of Graduate Studies Policy Committee, 2001- 2010 
• Chair UBC Dairy Education and Research Centre’s User’s Committee
• Secretary, UBC Dairy Education and Research Centre Advisory Committee