About
Mark Jones, Professor of Respiratory Medicine, is a clinician scientist leading a research group investigating the mechanisms that maintain lung health or drive the development of fibrosis. His programme integrates mechanistic studies, human biomimetic models, multi-omics analyses of the human lung, and early-disease cohorts to understand the biology of fibrosis initiation, identify biomarkers of progression, and inform therapeutic development. To support translation to patients, observational studies provide insight into early identification of fibrotic lung disease and optimisation of patient pathways. His research is underpinned by strong multidisciplinary basic–translational–clinical interaction, with collaborations across Faculties and with national and international academic and industry partners. He is also the clinical lead for the interstitial lung disease service at University Hospitals Southampton.
Potential students, post-doctoral scientists or clinicians who are interested in joining his group are encouraged to contact Prof Jones.
Research
Research groups
Research interests
- Fibrosis
- Lung resilience
- Mechanisms
- Biomarkers
Current research
Professor Jones’s research is focused on human fibrotic diseases where there is significant unmet need.
Interdisciplinary Approaches to Understanding Fibrosis
Leveraging technological advances through integrated, interdisciplinary approaches, our programme aims to define the biological mechanisms that determine whether the lung undergoes normal repair or progressive fibrosis. Working across Engineering, Mathematics, Chemistry and Biological Sciences, we apply spatial ‘omics, label-free imaging, atomic force microscopy and multiscale biomechanical analysis to dissect the structural and molecular basis of human lung fibrosis.
3D and Ex Vivo Biomimetic Models
To bridge the gap between animal models and human disease, we develop advanced primary human cell–based and ex vivo biomimetic models informed directly by human fibrotic tissue analyses. These models enable mechanistic studies of the fibrotic microenvironment - including epithelial, mesenchymal and vascular interactions - and provide a translational platform for therapeutic discovery in collaboration with industry partners.
Mechanisms Driving Progressive Fibrosis
Progressive fibrosis remains poorly understood. Our work focuses on microenvironmental and ageing-related determinants of progressive disease, integrating spatial multi-omics, human tissue analysis and mechanistic modelling to identify pathways that distinguish progressive fibrosis from self-limited repair. In partnership with Pharma, we investigate strategies to pharmacologically modulate these aberrant pathways.
Early Disease Biology and Risk Prediction
A major focus is understanding how fibrosis first develops, including the influence of ageing on alveolar vulnerability. We study clinical, radiologic and molecular risk factors for fibrotic initiation using early-disease cohorts, and explore these findings mechanistically using biomimetic models to identify modifiable early drivers of fibrosis. Our long-term goal is to enable pre-symptomatic disease-modifying therapy.
Patient Pathways, Early Diagnosis and Treatment
As clinical lead for the ILD service, Professor Jones supports research to optimise models of care for patients with fibrotic lung disease - from symptom onset to diagnosis, treatment initiation and multidisciplinary follow-up - with the goal of improving early detection, treatment access and patient outcomes.
Research projects
Active projects
Completed projects
Publications
Teaching
Professor Jones teaches Respiratory Medicine to undergraduates and postgraduate clinicians.
Joint BM Finals Clinical Assessment Lead
BMedSc/MMedSc Project Supervisor
BM5 examiner including ACC and OSCE
External roles and responsibilities
Biography
Mark Jones received his medical degree in 2006 from the University of Southampton, graduating with distinction in medical sciences, distinction in clinical sciences, and honours. He trained in general medicine and was awarded an NIHR Academic Clinical Fellowship in Respiratory Medicine where he developed a sub-speciality interest in the diagnosis and management of patients with interstitial lung diseases. He was then awarded a Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Training Fellowship at the University of Southampton, undertaking a PhD with Professors Donna Davies and Luca Richeldi to investigate early mechanisms of lung fibrosis and where he developed interests in human relevant in vitro models of fibrosis and the application of novel technologies to advance understanding of human lung fibrosis. Following the award of an NIHR Academic Clinical Lectureship he established the routine biobanking of samples from patients undergoing surgical lung biopsy for the investigation of fibrotic interstitial lung disease, forming a longitudinal cohort of patients which supported the establishment of the Southampton Lung Fibrosis Group, a multidisciplinary group of investigators studying determinants of progressive fibrotic lung diseases with the aims of developing novel approaches to disease classification, prognostic stratification, and treatment.
Qualifications
- BSc (Hons), Biomedical Sciences, University of Southampton 2005
- BM (Hons), Medicine, University of Southampton 2006
- M.R.C.P., UK 2009
- PhD, University of Southampton, 2016
Appointments Held
- Academic Foundation Trainee, University Hospitals Southampton (2006-2008)
- Core Medical Trainee, Wessex Deanery (2008-2010)
- NIHR Academic Clinical Fellow in Respiratory Medicine, Wessex Deanery & University of Southampton (2010-2013)
- Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Training Fellow, University of Southampton (2013-2016)
- NIHR Academic Clinical Lecturer in Respiratory Medicine, University of Southampton & University Hospitals Southampton (2017-2019)
- Associate Professor in Respiratory Medicine, University of Southampton (2019-2023)
- Honorary Consultant Respiratory Physician & ILD Clinical Lead, University Hospitals Southampton (2019-present)
- Professor of Respiratory Medicine, University of Southampton (2023-present)
Prizes
- Scientific Merit Award (2018)
- Scientific Merit Award (2018)