Howard C. Thomas

Howard C. Thomas is a British hepatologist and academic. He is Emeritus Professor of Hepatology at Imperial College London, known for his research on viral hepatitis, liver immunology, and antiviral therapies. Thomas chaired national advisory groups on hepatitis for the UK Department of Health, led clinical trials of interferon therapy, and was founding editor of the Journal of Viral Hepatitis. He was elected a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences in 1999.

Early life and education Thomas studied at Newcastle University, where he received a BSc in Physiology and MB BS in Medicine with honours, and was awarded the Phillipson Prize. He gained a PhD in Medicine from the University of Glasgow in 1974 with a thesis on liver immunology. Hepatitis B vaccine development: Thomas co‑authored a study demonstrating neutralization of hepatitis B virus infectivity using a murine monoclonal antibody, contributing to early vaccine research and diagnostics. Identification of molecular variants of hepatitis B, including e antigen-negative and vaccine escape mutants. Discovery of hepatitis C virus infection of the brain and its association with cognitive impairment ("brain fog"). Epidemiological studies on increasing incidence of cholangiocarcinoma in the UK. Interferon-alpha trials for chronic viral hepatitis, including a controlled trial in chronic hepatitis B (Hepatology, 1985) and a randomized trial in chronic hepatitis C (BMJ, 1989). Genetic studies linking host factors to viral hepatitis and alcohol-related liver disease, including susceptibility to hepatitis B (Nature Genetics, 1997) and genetic determinants of alcohol preference and alcoholic liver disease (Nature Communications, 2012). Mutations in the GABRB1 gene promoting alcohol consumption through increased tonic inhibition, furthering understanding of genetic control of alcohol use.

He has authored over 500 scientific publications, co-edited multiple editions of Viral Hepatitis and Hepatitis C, and founded the Journal of Viral Hepatitis.

Awards and honours Thomas's contributions to hepatology and liver research have been recognised through a number of awards: British Society of Gastroenterology Research Medal (1984). Hans Popper International Prize for Distinction in Hepatology (1989). Lifetime Recognition Award, British Association for the Study of the Liver (2010). Lifetime Achievement Award, European Association for the Study of the Liver (2010). Imperial College Medal (2013).

He has delivered named lectures including: Humphry Davy Rolleston Lecture at the Royal College of Physicians (1986, United Kingdom) Cohen Lecture (1988, Israel) Bushell Lecture (1990, Australia) Hans Popper Lecture (1996, Switzerland) Ralph Wright Lecture (1999, United Kingdom) Sheila Sherlock Lecture (2005, South Africa and Canada).