Biography
Dr. Luke Blagdon Snell is a physician and NIHR Clinical Lecturer specialising in microbiology and infectious diseases. His work focuses on applying novel genomic methods to investigate pathogen evolution and to develop new diagnostic approaches.
His research interests include the evolution of viruses during persistent infection, for instance SARS-CoV-2 and HIV-1. More broadly, our department’s work centres on translating rapid genomic technologies into clinical practice for pathogen identification, antimicrobial resistance prediction, and outbreak analysis. In 2025 he was appointed Lead for Clinical Implementation of the UK NHS Respiratory Metagenomics Network.
For more information on our work see coverage in the Guardian, Washington Post, the Sun and The Pathologist.
Research
Microbes in Health & Disease
The Microbes in Health & Diseases Research Interest Group aims to foster collaboration across departments and faculties at KCL to explore the multifaceted role microbes play in health and disease.
News
New species of bacteria discovered in unusual human infection
Researchers at King’s and Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Trust have discovered a new species of bacteria, named Variovorax Durovernensis, as a source of a patient’s...
Patient infected with COVID-19 finally cured after 411 days
A patient infected with an early variant of COVID-19 has been cured after 411 days by using neutralising monoclonal antibodies.
UK patient had COVID for 505 days
Researchers from King’s and Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust have described the longest known COVID-19 infection.
Research
Microbes in Health & Disease
The Microbes in Health & Diseases Research Interest Group aims to foster collaboration across departments and faculties at KCL to explore the multifaceted role microbes play in health and disease.
News
New species of bacteria discovered in unusual human infection
Researchers at King’s and Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Trust have discovered a new species of bacteria, named Variovorax Durovernensis, as a source of a patient’s...
Patient infected with COVID-19 finally cured after 411 days
A patient infected with an early variant of COVID-19 has been cured after 411 days by using neutralising monoclonal antibodies.
UK patient had COVID for 505 days
Researchers from King’s and Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust have described the longest known COVID-19 infection.