Professor Thomas Connor

Professor Connor has a research track record in the area of pathogen genomics and bioinformatics, with involvement in more than £50M of funded research to date. Professor Connor has co-authored significant publications in journals including Science, Cell, Nature and Nature genetics, covering a range of microbial pathogens, working with a global collection of collaborators from every continent other than Antarctica.  

Since 2016 Professor Connor has translated his research experience into clinical practice, leading the bioinformatics development of accredited clinical pathogen genomics services within Public Health Wales. This work has seen the development of end-to-end ISO 15189 accredited. These services are, in several cases, the first of their type globally, represent world class capabilities in the area of pathogen genomics that have been grown in Wales.  

Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, Professor Connor played a major role in the development of the COVID-19 Genomics UK Consortium (COG-UK), the laboratory network that established SARS-CoV-2 sequencing in the UK. Throughout the pandemic he led SARS-CoV-2 sequencing efforts in Wales, resulting in the sequencing and real-time use of over 250,000 Welsh SARS-CoV-2 genomes as part of the pandemic response.  

In February 2023 he took up the role of Head of the Public Health Genomics programme within Public Health Wales, where, alongside his retained research group at Cardiff University, he is working to develop and deliver new clinical and public health genomic services to protect and improve health and wellbeing and reduce health inequalities for people in Wales.