Welcome to the Thompson lab

Our lab focuses on understanding factors that are involved in disease progression in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Our studies are based on the developmental origins hypothesis of adult disease which states that in utero and perinatal events drive risk for chronic disease. We are particularly interested in the effects of parental over-nutrition on the offspring.

Learn more about our research …

  • Thompson Lab photos 2019-2020
  • Thompson Lab photos 2019-2020
  • Thompson Lab photos 2019-2020
  • Thompson Lab photo 2019-2020
  • Thompson Lab photos 2019-2020

Interested in joining us?

Learn more about opportunities opening up in our lab …

Michael Thompson, MD featured in lab environment

Principal Investigator

Michael Thompson, MD

Michael Thompson, originally from West Virginia, completed his undergradate degree in biology at Washington University in St. Louis in 2003. He subsequently spent a year at the National Institutes of Health studying endothelial progenitor cells in cardiovascular disease under the mentorship of Dr. Richard O. Cannon, III. He then entered the Medical Scientist Training Program at the University of Pittsburgh where he completed his graduate studies in the laboratory of Dr. Satdarshan (Paul) Monga. For his thesis research, he studied the role of the Wnt/Beta-catenin signaling pathway in liver cancer and cholestatic liver disease.

Following completion of the MD/PhD program, Michael joined the Pediatrics residency program at Nationwide Children’s Hospital where he also completed fellowship in Pediatric Endocrinology. In 2017, Michael joined the Department of Pediatrics at Washington University where he now studies developmental programming of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.