Life After Lancing: Charles Lor

As part of our new Where Are They Now? series, we’re catching up with Old Lancians who have gone on to pursue remarkable careers in fields such as medicine, biomedical research, and healthcare. Through these stories, we highlight the diverse pathways our former pupils have taken and the foundations their time at Lancing helped to build. In this edition, we speak with Charles Lor about his journey from studying Medical Biosciences to conducting cutting-edge research at one of the world’s leading medical institutes.

Your Journey to University

What inspired you to study Medical Biosciences BSc?
Honestly, I really enjoyed biology and chemistry during my A Levels, so it felt natural to look at courses that combined both. That led me to Biomedical Sciences, Biochemistry, Biology, and Medicine. I always loved designing and running experiments, so Medicine was out of the question. I chose Biomedical Sciences because I enjoyed human biology and disease mechanisms, and I wasn’t interested enough in protein biology to commit to pure biochemistry.

How did your time at Lancing help you prepare for applying?
At Lancing, I was given a great deal of intellectual freedom. My teachers and tutor constantly encouraged me to dig deeper and ask the questions no one else wanted to ask. This mindset translated directly into the strength of my personal statements during applications.

Your Time at University

Which university did you choose, and how has it been?
I interviewed at Oxford but was ultimately unsuccessful. I then went to Imperial College London, which turned out to be the perfect fit. My cohort was the first to experience a new course structure that focused on lab-based projects, independent learning, and critical discussion with peers and experts in the field.

What has been the most surprising or enjoyable part of university life?
What surprised and excited me most was discovering—and pushing—my limits. I realised that when I’m determined to accomplish something, nothing can stand in my way. Without going into too much detail, I discovered just how efficiently I can work through large volumes of study material when an exam is only 24 hours away…

How did you find the transition from Lancing to university?
It was pretty smooth. I joined Lancing in Sixth Form after moving from Hong Kong, so university felt like a repeat of that experience—acclimating to a new environment and building new social circles.

Looking Back and Looking Ahead

Which teachers, mentors, or experiences at Lancing supported you the most?
My tutor and biology teacher, Mr Chappell, was a huge influence. His clarity in class and his encouragement were essential. I would also like to acknowledge Mr Williamson and Dr Walsh, who made Chemistry—and science in general—so much fun. Their enthusiasm continues to motivate me every day.

What advice would you give to current pupils considering Biomedical Sciences?
When asked a difficult question, don’t be afraid of not knowing the answer. Most of the time, the person asking is more interested in what you do know and how you reason through what the answer could be.

What area of Biomedical Science are you most interested in exploring?
I’m currently working in neurobiology, and I’m particularly interested in epigenetic changes that occur during prolonged inflammation.

What are you doing now?
I’m currently pursuing my PhD at the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. My main work focuses on malignancy in paediatric brain tumours—how tumour cells interact with the brain and how healthy cells may actually facilitate their progression. I also research inflammatory responses in multiple sclerosis (MS) and how they affect oligodendrocytes, the cells targeted during MS.

What are your ambitions for the future?
I plan to remain in academic research and have been undertaking pedagogical training with the aim of becoming a professor one day.