Don Thushara Galbadage

Associate Professor Texas Christian University

  • Fort Worth TX

Dr. Galbadage investigates innovative therapeutic methods to target multidrug resistant pathogens.

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Biography

Dr. Don Thushara Galbadage is an associate professor of Applied Health Sciences at Texas Christian University (TCU) specializing in microbiology, epidemiology, neurodegenerative diseases and C. elegans. His research focuses on antimicrobial resistance, the gut-brain axis in Parkinson’s disease, and the role of gut microbiota in neuroinflammation. Using C. elegans as a model, he investigates microbial and metal toxicity influences on neurodegeneration and oncogenesis.

Dr. Galbadage holds a Ph.D. in Medical Sciences from Texas A&M University and an M.P.H. in Epidemiology from the University of Texas. His work has contributed to cutting-edge therapeutic approaches, including molecular nanomachines targeting multidrug-resistant pathogens. He collaborates across disciplines to bridge microbiology and neuroscience and is strongly committed to mentoring future scientists. His high-impact publications include studies on antimicrobial resistance mechanisms, nanomedicine-based therapies for infectious diseases and determinants of health leading to disparities in COVID-19 spread.

Areas of Expertise

One Health
Tuberculosis
Microbiome
Long COVID
Monkeypox
Substance Use Disorders
Drug Resistance / Superbugs
COVID-19 (Omicron, XBB, etc.)
Epidemiology
Health Disparities
Post-Pandemic Mental Health Trends
Gut Health
Nanomedicine
Zoonotic Diseases
Alzheimer's Disease
Parkinson's Disease
Public & Global Health
Disaster Preparedness
Bioterrorism
Bird Flu
Vaccines
Infectious Diseases

Accomplishments

Steward Research Faculty Fellow, Biola University, La Mirada

2023

Education

Texas A&M University

Ph.D.

Medical Sciences

2017

The University of Texas

M.P.H.

Epidemiology

2008

Texas Christian University

B.S.

Biology

2007

Affiliations

  • American Public Health Association (APHA)

Media Appearances

TCU Alumnus Returns to Spearhead Growth in Emerging Public Health Field

Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences  online

2024-10-18

“I am particularly excited about TCU’s commitment to fostering interdisciplinary collaborations across health care professions,” Galbadage shared. “This approach provides our students with invaluable opportunities to learn how healthcare professionals collaborate in real-world settings.”

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Event Appearances

The Patient is a Vital Stakeholder in the Success of Hospital Antibiotic Stewardship Programs

2022 | Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) Research Institute Research Week  Virtual

Killing Viruses (Bacteriophages) By Molecular Nanomachines

2022 | Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Annual Meeting  Virtual

Efficacy of peptides and peptoids against pan-resistant K. pneumoniae

2018 | 3rd Annual Texas A&M Postdoctoral Association (PDA) Research Symposium  College Station, TX

Research Grants

Characterization of Antimicrobial Properties of Molecular Nanomachines

Biola University STH Research Grant

2023

Articles

Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol in People With Major Depressive Episodes and Alcohol Use Disorder.

Substance Use & Addiction Journal

2024

Objectives: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) and depression are the most commonly reported psychiatric comorbid conditions. We examined trends in the past-year prevalence of driving under the influence of alcohol (DUIA) among people with major depressive episodes (MDE), AUD, or both in the United States.

Methods: We analyzed 543,573 individuals aged 18 years or older from the 2005 to 2019 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). Multivariate logistic regression models were applied to examine the adjusted past-year prevalence of DUIA. To assess trends in DUIA over time, average annual percent change (AAPC) was calculated.

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ORFanID: A web-based search engine for the discovery and identification of orphan and taxonomically restricted genes

PLoS One

2023

With the numerous genomes sequenced today, it has been revealed that a noteworthy percentage of genes in a given taxon of organisms in the phylogenetic tree of life do not have orthologous sequences in other taxa. These sequences are commonly referred to as “orphans” or “ORFans” if found as single occurrences in a single species or as “taxonomically restricted genes” (TRGs) when found at higher taxonomic levels. Quantitative and collective studies of these genes are necessary for understanding their biological origins. However, the current software for identifying orphan genes is limited in its functionality, database search range, and very complex algorithmically. Thus, researchers studying orphan genes must harvest their data from many disparate sources. ORFanID is a graphical web-based search engine that facilitates the efficient identification of both orphan genes and TRGs at all taxonomic levels, from DNA or amino acid sequences in the NCBI database cluster and other large bioinformatics repositories.

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Mental health, substance use, and the importance of religion during the COVID-19 pandemic

Mental Health, Religion & Culture

2023

COVID-19 has impacted all areas of life, with lasting effects on physical, mental, and societal health. Specifically, COVID and related losses have exacerbated prolonged grief responses and mental disorders including depression and anxiety. These mental health concerns are associated with increased detrimental coping strategies including substance use. In this study, we analysed secondary data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) collected during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our results showed a positive association between serious psychological distress and marijuana use, while frequent religious service attendance acted as a moderator in this relationship. Individuals involved in communal religious activity were less likely to use marijuana. This study highlights the impact of religion and faith in bringing hope and purpose during periods of loss, coping with stress, grief, mental health challenges, and substance use.

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