Professor Thomas Sears

We were sad to hear the news that Professor Thomas Sears passed away on 19 February 2024 at the age of 96.

Professor Sears was an Honorary Visiting Professor at King’s, known for revolutionising research into the nervous control of breathing and spinal cord physiology.

A passion for science

Professor Sears first discovered his passion for science while working as a laboratory assistant at the Wellcome Physiological Research Library. When World War II broke out, he joined the RAF as a Radar Technician.

After the war, Professor Sears completed his undergraduate degree at University College London (UCL) and took on a role as Assistant Lecturer in 1952. He then worked as a physiologist for the National Hospital for Nervous Diseases, before becoming a Lecturer at the Institute of Neurology (now part of UCL).

International adventures and acclaim

In 1961, Professor Sears joined the Australian National University as a Visiting Wellcome Research Fellow. He was fortunate to study alongside Sir John Eccles, who would go on to receive a Nobel Prize.

Professor Sears’ academic expertise has since been recognised internationally. His career as a Visiting Professor led him to Ireland, Germany and Japan. In 1977, he received the coveted title of Docteur Honoris Causa from Aix-Marseille Université, recognising his exceptional services to science.

Professor Sears returned to the UK in 1963 to take up a Senior Lecturer post at the Institute of Neurology. He became Professor in 1973 and played an instrumental role in running the Sobell Department of Neurophysiology (Institute of Neurology).

A generous, kind and brilliant man

Professor Sears came to King’s in 2003. He joined the newly opened Wolfson Centre as a Visiting Professor (then known as the Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases). His work involved in-vivo neurophysiology experiments and collaborating with members of the centre on various projects.

Collaborators included Professor Elizabeth Bradbury, Co-Head of the Wolfson Sensory, Pain and Regeneration Centre (SPaRC), who described Spears as ‘a generous, kind and brilliant man. He was an absolute fount of knowledge and liked nothing more than to talk science, to teach and train, and talk about his past work and collaborations.’

Professor Sears will be remembered for his dedication, insight, and passion for science. Our thoughts are with his friends, family and colleagues.

Details for this obituary were taken from the King’s website.