Pembrey, Marcus: transcript of a video interview (05-Feb-2016)

Abstract

Interview with Professor Marcus Pembrey, conducted by Professor Tilli Tansey, for the History of Modern Biomedicine Research Group, 05 February 2016, in the School of History, Queen Mary University of London. Transcribed by Mrs Debra Gee, and edited by Professor Tilli Tansey and Dr Apostolos Zarros. The project management and the technical support (filming and production) were undertaken by Mr Adam Wilkinson and Mr Alan Yabsley, respectively. Professor Marcus Pembrey MD FRCP FRCOG FRCPCH FMedSci (b. 1943) is Emeritus Professor of Paediatric Genetics at the Institute of Child Health, University College London and Visiting Professor of Paediatric Genetics at the University of Bristol. He graduated from Guy’s Hospital in 1966 with an interest in paediatrics and medical genetics, then studied benign sickle cell disease in eastern Saudi Arabia while training in clinical genetics with Paul Polani at Guy’s. In 1979 he was appointed Head of the new Mothercare Unit of Paediatric Genetics at the Institute of Child Health and Honorary Consultant in Clinical Genetics at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children. Here he helped develop clinical DNA analysis services, contributing to the Department of Health’s Special Medical Development on this. His research focused on irregular inheritance, initially fragile X syndrome and then Angelman syndrome and genomic imprinting. This led to his current interest in transgenerational responses to early life exposures. He helped Jean Golding launch the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) in Bristol, being Director of Genetics within ALSPAC from 1989 to 2005. He was Adviser in Genetics to the Chief Medical Officer UK (1989-1998) and President of the European Society of Human Genetics (1994-1995).