Consultant Histopathologist at Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust (London, UK); Emeritus Professor of Clinical Histopathology at KCL School of Medicine, London

Professor Sebastian Lucas graduated from Oxford (1970) and London (1973) universities. He entered UK pathology training and obtained the MRCPath diploma in 1978. Work on infectious & tropical diseases in London was followed by 2 years in Nairobi at the Kenyatta National Hospital, and 15 years providing histopathology diagnostic services to hospitals in Africa by post from London. From 1986-95 he was the leprosy tissue diagnostician for many countries in Africa and Asia. In 1991-2 he worked with the CDC Project RETRO-CI in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, performing the only large epidemiological autopsy study of the clinical pathology of HIV disease in adults and children in Africa. He became professor of pathology in 1995 at Guys & St Thomas’ Hospital, retiring in 2012. In addition to infectious disease diagnostics and HIV, he is an expert in the pathology of sickle cell disease and maternal mortality (and is the chief pathology assessor for the British Isles’ confidential enquiries into such deaths). Autopsy quality standards and the utility of autopsy for epidemiology and public health is also a current activity. He chaired the Royal College of Pathologists working parties on bringing autopsy practice up to date for the 21st century. He still lectures in UK and internationally, writes, and mentors the ongoing infectious disease pathology consultation service run from St Thomas’ hospital. Since 1980 he has visited more than 20 countries in sub-Saharan Africa on professional visits. He has over 150 publications the above subjects.