Nicholas Robert Thomson

Professor Nicholas Robert Thomson is Head of the Parasites and Microbes Programme and Group Leader at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, with a joint appointment as Professor of Bacterial Genomics and Evolution at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. His research focuses on bacterial genomics and evolution, with particular emphasis on sexually transmitted and diarrhoeal diseases.

Thomson graduated from Warwick University in 1991 with a degree in Microbiology and Microbial Technology, followed by a PhD in global regulation of virulence and secondary metabolism in enteric bacteria. After postdoctoral work at the University of Cambridge and INSA de Lyon, France, he joined the Sanger Institute in 1999 as a Senior Computer Biologist, becoming a Principal Staff Scientist, and was promoted to Group Leader and Faculty member in 2014. In 2012, he received an honorary chair from the University of St Andrews School of Medicine, and in 2013 took up his joint appointment with LSHTM.

Professor Thomson's research program employs genomic approaches to investigate how bacterial genome variation relates to host niches, evolutionary changes over time and geography, and responses to therapeutic interventions. His group has pioneered methods for accessing genome data directly from clinical samples without culture. His work spans multiple bacterial pathogens including Shigella, Salmonella, Vibrio cholerae, Treponema pallidum, and Klebsiella pneumoniae, with a strong focus on antimicrobial resistance mechanisms and transmission dynamics.

Analysis of Thomson's recent publications (2023-2025) reveals a consistent focus on bacterial genomics applied to public health challenges, particularly antimicrobial resistance and pathogen evolution. His work spans multiple continents, with significant research in Africa, Asia, and Europe, often involving collaborations with local researchers in endemic settings. A notable pattern is the application of advanced genomic techniques to understand transmission dynamics of pathogens like Shigella sonnei and Vibrio cholerae, with increasing integration of machine learning approaches for antimicrobial susceptibility prediction.

• Honorary Professor, School of Medicine, University of St Andrews (2012)

Professor Thomson leads a multidisciplinary team comprising scientists, modelers, and clinicians with a global reach. His research is supported by numerous grants focusing on bacterial pathogen genomics, antimicrobial resistance surveillance, and development of genomic tools for public health applications. He has supervised numerous PhD students and postdoctoral researchers who have gone on to establish their own research programs in microbial genomics.

The Thomson Group operates within the Parasites and Microbes Programme at the Sanger Institute, collaborating closely with international partners including institutions in Africa, Asia, and Europe. The group maintains strong connections with clinical teams to ensure their genomic research has direct relevance to patient care and public health interventions.