Determinants and consequences of chronic disease and associated treatment modalities

Career overview

Professor G. Neil Thomas completed his PhD in Medical Sciences at the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 1999, focusing on the genetic epidemiology of hypertension. He also holds an MPhil in Pathological Sciences from the same institution, awarded in 1995, and a BSc (Hons) in Applied Biology from Nottingham Trent University, obtained in 1989. In 2002, he began his academic career at the University of Hong Kong in the Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, where he played a key role in initiating the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study. In 2007, Professor Thomas joined the University of Birmingham as a Reader in Epidemiology, Public Health and Biostatistics, which is now part of the Institute of Applied Health Research. He was promoted to Professor of Epidemiology and Research Methods in 2017. His leadership roles include serving as the Regional Director of the NIHR Research Design Service West Midlands for 12 years and, more recently, as the Director of the NIHR Research Support Service Birmingham Hub and the National Collaborative. Professor Thomas has an extensive research portfolio across Europe, Africa, and Asia, focusing on cardiometabolic disease epidemiology and patient management, particularly in relation to atrial fibrillation care pathways, air pollution, and lifestyle exposures. His recent studies include the NIHR Global Group in Atrial Fibrillation management across Brazil, China, and Sri Lanka, and the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study in China. He has secured over £50 million in funding for his research, with an H-index exceeding 70 and over 300 publications in indexed, peer-reviewed journals, accumulating over 30,000 citations. In addition to his research, Professor Thomas is actively involved in teaching at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, serving as Co-Director of the Master of Health Research Methods programme. He has supervised 20 PhD/MD students and is currently supervising three. His research interests encompass determinants of cardiometabolic disease, approaches to improve care pathways, and the health consequences of air pollution.

Research interests

Professor Thomas''s research focuses on cardiometabolic disease epidemiology and patient management, particularly in relation to atrial fibrillation care pathways, air pollution, and lifestyle exposures. His work includes significant studies such as the NIHR Global Group in Atrial Fibrillation management across Brazil, China, and Sri Lanka, the Elderly Health Centres Study in Hong Kong, and the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study in China. He is also involved in a trial assessing the effectiveness of a PolyPill for cardiovascular disease and mortality outcomes. Recent funding supports a hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial aimed at improving care for older individuals with diabetes and chronic kidney disease in primary care, as well as the implementation of digitally integrated care pathways for managing multiple long-term conditions in Sri Lanka. Professor Thomas''s research is characterised by a combination of epidemiological studies, interventional studies targeting lifestyle and pharmacological treatments, and the optimisation of care pathways through digital technologies. His interests encompass ageing, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, public health, and lifestyle factors impacting health outcomes.