Sian M Henson

Prof Henson is an immunologist interested in the mechanisms that drive T cell senescence. In particular, how changes to T cell metabolism during human ageing maintain an inflammatory deleterious state. Her group at Queen Mary University of London has played a key role in highlighting the different metabolic requirements between CD4+ and CD8+ senescent T cells and have uncovered a novel role for the transcription factor GATA3 in the control of mitochondrial biogenesis. More recently, she has started to become interested in premature senescence phenotypes and their contribution to age-related disease. She is the co-lead of the Life-long Health theme at QMUL, a multi-disciplinary effort to develop innovative research across the whole spectrum, from discovery science to health care services. She is also the lead for the CELLO network, CELLular metabolism Over a life-course in socioeconomic disadvantaged populations. The network is made up of researchers working in deprived places across the UK, and aims to address the impact of socioeconomic deprivation on healthy-life expectancy.