Michael Tims

Biography

Dr. Michael (Bhodi) Tims grew up all over the planet – Bangkok, Hong Kong, Marburg Germany, Stockholm, Bucharest and Thessaloniki Greece. He got his start in herbal medicine as managing partner in a health food store in Old Town Alexandria, VA, where he also trained to become a clinical herbalist. His real passion emerged there – researching the chemical ecology and clinical efficacy of medicinal plants. Currently he is director of Herbal Product Design and Manufacture MS and the Cannabis Science Certificate programs.
He has broad herbal research experience in product and formulary development, clinical application, analytical method development, and the chemical ecology of medicinal plants. He has provided research mentorship for both students and junior faculty in the Herbal Product Design and Cannabis Science programs at Notre Dame University of Maryland.
In additional, he is Vice-Chairperson Board of Directors, Verax Research Services, Inc., as well as the Scientific Advisor for Vitreon America, Inc. and Care Beyond Diagnosis directing cannabis and herbal product development for the cosmeceutical and supplement marketplace. He has also consulted with various companies.
Previous research efforts included the following:
The role of lectins as signaling molecules in American Mistletoe (Phoradendron leucarpum).
The chemical ecology of Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) rhizosphere and its effect on soil fungi.
Tissue culture experiments to differentiate plant tissue of Mistletoe and Goldenseal.
Enzymatic extraction and certification measurements of green tea (Camellia sinensis).
Developed analytical methods to evaluate economic adulteration of goldenseal.
Conducted both greenhouse fungal/plant interaction and goldenseal field collection trials.
Develop plant tissue culture methods for American Mistletoe and Goldenseal.
Used ELISA methods to conduction detection of mycotoxins in plant root extracts.
His awards include:
Faculty Excellence and Innovation in Service Award: Maryland University of Integrative Health, 2021.
Research and Scholarship Award: Maryland University of Integrative Health, 2017.
Grant: Emerson Ecologics, Expanding MUIH Herbal Dispensary Services to Support GMP Education of New Herbalists and Smaller Herbal Manufacturers, 2015.
Grant: McCormick Science Institute, The effect of flavorings on the perceived digestive responses to the consumption of vegetable-based foods: a pilot study, 2013.
Fellowship: Paul Peck Humanities Institute’s Smithsonian, 2011.
Postdoctoral Fellowship: National Institute of Standards and Technology and National Institutes of Health, Botanical Standard Reference Material, 2006-2009.
Lilly-East Fellowship: Center for Teaching Excellence, University of Maryland, 2006.

Education

• BA in English/Writing from George Mason University Ph.D. in the Chemical Ecology of Medicinal Plants from the University of Maryland,
• College Park Post-Doctoral Fellowship,
• National Institutes of Health/National Institutes of Standards and Technology