London
Our team includes researchers, doctors, nurses, data analysts and more. We are supported by a Community Advisory Group and Executive Committee.
David van Heel
Chief Investigator and Co-lead
Sarah Finer
Co-lead
Moneeza Siddiqui
Lecturer (QMUL)
Claudia Langenberg
Director of Precision Healthcare University Research Institute (QMUL)
Dr Karen Hunt
Director of Labs
Jessry Russell
Director of Clinical Operations
Kamrul Islam
Stage 1 Manager
Sheik Dowlut
Senior Programme Manager
Dr John Solly
Research Manager
Annum Salman
Comms and Engagement Manager
Dr Josef Gafton
Research Fellow
Jan Whalley
Administrative Assistant
Ishevanhu Zengeya
Research Nurse
Dr Elizabeth B Owor
Research Technician
Asmaa Qureshi
Research Technician
Emily Mantle
Deputy Study Manager
Mohammed Bodrul Mazid
Bilingual Research Assistant
Nishat Safa
Bilingual Research Assistant
Sabina Yasmin
Bilingual Research Assistant
Shabana Chaudhary
Bilingual Research Assistant
Shapna Hussain
Bilingual Research Assistant
Dr Stuart Rison
Senior Clinical Research Fellow, Head of Health Data
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-lead
Professor Sarah Finer is a Professor of Clinical Diabetes at Queen Mary University of London and a Consultant Diabetologist at Barts Health NHS Trust. She co-leads the Genes & Health study, which focuses on understanding health and disease in British Bangladeshi and British Pakistani communities. With over 15 years of experience in diabetes care, her research combines clinical science, health data, and genetics to explore type 2 diabetes in South Asians, aiming to improve prevention, diagnosis, and treatment while reducing health inequalities.
More about me
Moneeza Siddiqui
Lecturer (QMUL)Claudia Langenberg
Director of Precision Healthcare University Research Institute (QMUL)Dr Karen Hunt
Director of LabsJessry Russell
Director of Clinical OperationsKamrul Islam
Stage 1 ManagerSheik Dowlut
Senior Programme ManagerDr John Solly
Research ManagerAnnum Salman
Comms and Engagement ManagerDr Josef Gafton
Research FellowJan Whalley
Administrative AssistantIshevanhu Zengeya
Research NurseDr Elizabeth B Owor
Research TechnicianAsmaa Qureshi
Research TechnicianEmily Mantle
Deputy Study ManagerMohammed Bodrul Mazid
Bilingual Research AssistantNishat Safa
Bilingual Research AssistantSabina Yasmin
Bilingual Research AssistantShabana Chaudhary
Bilingual Research AssistantShapna Hussain
Bilingual Research AssistantDr Stuart Rison
Senior Clinical Research Fellow, Head of Health DataThe London Genes & Health team is integral to advancing genetic research through its specialised operations:
- The Clinical Operations team conducts Stage 1, collecting samples at community venues and medical practices to facilitate broad participation, and Stage 2 Recall, ensuring participants are efficiently re-engaged for follow-up studies.
- Our Lab team processes all collected samples with precision and adherence to high standards.
- The Business Operations & Partnerships team manages collaborations with academic research groups and industry partners, oversees communications and engagement, and facilitates Public and Patient Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) activities to ensure community involvement in research.
