Professor Gareth Thomas BDS, MScD, PhD, FDSRCS, FRCPath
Professor of Experimental Pathology, Consultant in Histopathology
Professor Thomas was appointed to the Chair of Experimental Pathology in 2009. He trained in Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology at University College Hospital, London, gaining his FDSRCS in 1994, MRCPath in 2004 and FRCPath in 2008. He undertook his PhD as an MRC Clinical Fellow at University College London and the Richard Dimblebey Department of Cancer Research, studying the functional role of alphav integrins in keratinocytes (1996-1999). In 2004 he was awarded a 5-year Clinician Scientist Fellowship from the Heath Foundation/Royal College of Pathologists to develop novel tumour therapies based on alphavbeta6 integrin expression in head and neck cancer. He was appointed Professor of Oral Pathology and Consultant in Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology at Barts and the London in 2007.
As a clinical pathologist I spend a lot of time looking down a microscope at cancers. My research focuses on understanding how the different cells within a tumour interact to affect patient survival, and particularly how cancers spread. My goal is to translate this research into clinical trials, and ultimately to help patients by improving diagnosis and treatment’
Professor Thomas leads a group that investigates how the tumour microenvironment promotes tumour progression, particularly the regulation of cancer cell motility. The translational element of this work, including biomarker studies and clinical trials, is focused on head and neck cancer. His research group is based within the Faculty of Medicine campus and comprises both clinical and non-clinical scientists. Potential students, post-doctoral scientists or clinician scientists who are interested in joining her group are encouraged to contact Professor Thomas.
He is a Consultant Pathologist in University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust.
Qualifications
BDS, University of Wales College of Medicine 1989
MScD, University of Wales College of Medicine 1995
PhD, University College London 2000
Fellowships
FDSRCS, Royal College of Surgeons (Eng) 1994
MRCPath, Royal College of Pathologists 2004
FRCPath, Royal College of Pathologists 2008
FRSB, Royal Society of Biology 2013
Appointments held
MRC Clinical Training Fellow, Eastman Dental Institute, University College London 1996-1999
Specialist Registrar and Honorary Lecturer, University College London Hospital 2000-2004
Health Foundation/Royal College of Pathologists Senior Research Fellow, Institute of Cancer, Barts and the London 2004-2007
Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Barts and the London, 2007-2009
