Professor Gareth J Thomas BDS, MScD, PhD, FDSRCS, FRCPath, FRSB
Professor of Experimental Pathology, Consultant in Histopathology
Professor Thomas leads a group that investigates the effect of the tumour microenvironment on tumour development and progression, particularly the role of cancer-associated fibroblasts in regulating immune escape and tumour invasion. The translational element of this work, including biomarker studies and clinical trials, is focused on head & 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.
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 escape the immune system and spread. My goal is to translate this research into clinical practice, and ultimately to help patients by improving diagnosis and treatment
Gareth Thomas was appointed to the Chair of Experimental Pathology in 2009. He trained in Oral & 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, ICRF studying keratinocyte integrin biology (1996-1999). In 2004 he was awarded a 5-year Clinician Scientist Fellowship from the Heath Foundation/Royal College of Pathologists to develop novel alphavbeta6 integrin-directed therapies in head & neck cancer. He was appointed Professor of Oral Pathology and Consultant in Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology at Bart’s and the London in 2007, before being appointed to the Chair of Experimental Pathology in Southampton in 2009.
His key research interest is the investigation of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) in promoting tumour progression; characterising the spectrum of fibroblast heterogeneity in tissues, understanding how different phenotypes are regulated and how these interact functionally with other cell types. The translational element of this work focuses on developing therapeutic strategies to target CAF clinically as part of cancer treatment.
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, Bart’s and the London 2004-2007
Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Bart’s and the London, 2007-2009
