Executive Committee
The Genes & Health Executive Committee meets monthly and is made up of senior researchers and community partners who are working closely on Genes & Health.
David van Heel
Chief Investigator and Co-lead
Sarah Finer
Co-lead
Richard Trembath
Chairman
Ahsan Khan
Chair, Community Advisory Board. Honorary member, Executive Committee. Councillor, Waltham Forest Council.
Moneeza Siddiqui
Lecturer (QMUL)
Claudia Langenberg
Director of Precision Healthcare University Research Institute (QMUL)
John Wright
Principal Investigator (Bradford)
William Newman
Lead, Manchester Genes & Health
Ceri Durham
CEO — Social Action for Health
Hilary Martin
Group Leader (Wellcome Sanger Institute)
Chris Griffiths
Professor of Primary Care (QMUL)
Eamonn Maher
Principal Investigator (West Midlands)
David van Heel
Chief Investigator and Co-leadProfessor David Van Heel is a Professor of Genetics at Queen Mary University of London and an Honorary Consultant Physician at Barts Health NHS Trust. He trained in clinical research with a Medical Research Council Clinical Training Fellowship and a Wellcome Trust Clinician Scientist Fellowship.
His research focuses on population genomic medicine, particularly within British Bangladeshi and British Pakistani communities, and includes studies using NHS health data. He is the Chief Investigator for the Genes & Health longitudinal population study. Previously, he served on the Medical Research Council and as Deputy Chief Clinical Information Officer at Barts Health NHS Trust.
More about meSarah Finer
Co-leadRichard Trembath
ChairmanRichard Charles Trembath is the Senior Vice President (SVP) for Life Sciences & Health and Executive Director of King’s Health Partners Academic Health Science Centre. He oversees the integration of university research and NHS Trusts to advance health innovations. As SVP, he represents King’s in health and life sciences, supports major decisions, and strengthens partnerships, including with the Francis Crick Institute. He also maintains relationships with NHS Trusts and explores new opportunities aligned with the UK’s Life Science Vision.
Previously, Richard was SVP & Provost (Health) and Executive Director of King’s Health Partners. He joined King’s in 2015 as Executive Dean of the Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine. A geneticist, he trained at Guy’s Hospital Medical School and later held positions at the University of Leicester and King’s College London. He was also Vice-Principal for Health at Queen Mary University London and Executive Dean of Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry.
Richard is a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences and has led research in human disease genes, focusing on rare and common conditions. He co-founded the East London Genes and Health project, one of the largest community-based genetics studies, funded by the Wellcome Trust.
More about meAhsan Khan
Chair, Community Advisory Board. Honorary member, Executive Committee. Councillor, Waltham Forest Council.Moneeza Siddiqui
Lecturer (QMUL)Claudia Langenberg
Director of Precision Healthcare University Research Institute (QMUL)John Wright
Principal Investigator (Bradford)William Newman
Lead, Manchester Genes & HealthCeri Durham
CEO — Social Action for HealthHilary Martin
Group Leader (Wellcome Sanger Institute)Chris Griffiths
Professor of Primary Care (QMUL)Eamonn Maher
Principal Investigator (West Midlands)The Executive Committee’s main roles are to:
- Work with the community and the Community Advisory Board to make sure Genes & Health is working in the best interests of its volunteers.
- Guide the scientific direction of the study, including setting research priorities in consultation with the community.
- Review new applications to use the Genes & Health resource (including recall of volunteers).
- Oversee the progress of the study and the allocation of resources and funding.
- Plan and oversee community engagement activities.
