Thomas Francis

Dr. Thomas Francis is a Researcher and Research Associate at King's College London, based in the Centre for Human & Applied Physiological Sciences (part of the School of Basic & Medical Biosciences) within the Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine. His research focuses on the longitudinal effects of exercise in aging humans, integrating molecular, cellular, and whole-body physiology approaches. He leads work on cellular senescence models and applies cutting-edge techniques like single nuclei multiomics and spatial imaging.

Education:

• BSc Sport & Exercise Science, University of Bath
• MRes Molecular & Cellular Biology, University of Birmingham
• PhD in Prof. Stephen Harridge’s lab at King’s College London (BBSRC LIDo DTP-funded)

Research Interests: Tom’s work bridges mechanobiology and aging science, with a focus on how exercise influences health across the lifespan. His projects investigate molecular mechanisms of senescence in muscle cells and translate findings to human aging studies. He actively advocates for interdisciplinary collaboration, especially in applying novel omics technologies to physiological research.

Committees & Leadership:

• Former Co-Chair, FoLSM Research Staff Network (RSN) Committee
• Deputy Chair, Research Staff Representative Committee at King’s
• Organized the inaugural Early Career Researcher Conference (2023)

Labs & Collaborations: Member of the King’s MechanoBiology Centre (KMBC), fostering cross-disciplinary research in mechanobiology. His lab work integrates wet-lab techniques with advanced imaging and computational biology tools.

Future Goals: Aims to secure an independent fellowship to lead interdisciplinary projects applying exercise science to lifespan health improvements.