Professor Marcus Pembrey is a clinical geneticist and Founding Chair of Trustees at the Progress Educational Trust (PET), having founded the charity together with Viscount Janric Craigavon and Dr Virginia Bolton. He is also Emeritus Professor of Paediatric Genetics at University College London's Institute of Child Health, Visiting Professor of Paediatric Genetics at the University of Bristol, and a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences. He was previously Consultant Adviser in Genetics to the Chief Medical Officer at the UK Government's Department of Health, President of the European Society of Human Genetics, Vice Dean of the Institute of Child Health, and a Consultant Clinical Geneticist at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children. Together with Antony Blackburn-Starza, James Brooks and Dr Rebecca Hill (editors of PET's free weekly email news digest, commentary service and website BioNews) he runs the BioNews internship scheme, which provides practical science writing training and experience for PhD students.

Marcus cofounded the International Federation of Human Genetic Societies, and his group helped to pioneer the use of DNA testing in genetic counselling and prenatal diagnosis within the services provided to families threatened by serious genetic disease. Alongside his research into rare genetic syndromes showing unusual patterns of inheritance, he helped Professor Jean Golding establish the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). This is widely regarded as the most comprehensive general population birth cohort in the world with a cell-lined backed DNA bank on over 10,000 participants, their mothers and many fathers. Marcus has written over 150 peer-reviewed papers in publications including Cell, the Lancet, Nature and Science. He has also written textbooks and guides for the general public, and has worked with the Nuffield Foundation on the development of its Science in Society course. The focus of his current research is environmental epigenomics and transgenerational responses.

At lectern: Professor Marcus Pembrey
Speaking at the Progress Educational Trust event Is There a Place for Race in Biology?
Photograph by Lahiru Dayananda

At lectern: Professor Marcus Pembrey
Speaking at the Progress Educational Trust event Is There a Place for Race in Biology?
Photograph by Lahiru Dayananda

Left to right on speaker panel: Dr Neil Bradman, Dr Jim Wilson, Dr Aarathi Prasad, Professor Marcus Pembrey
Speaking at the Progress Educational Trust event Is There a Place for Race in Biology?
Photograph by Lahiru Dayananda

Left to right: Dr Neil Bradman, Dr Jim Wilson, Dr Aarathi Prasad, (at lectern) Professor Marcus Pembrey
Speaking at the Progress Educational Trust event Is There a Place for Race in Biology?
Photograph by Lahiru Dayananda

Left to right in background: Dr Neil Bradman, Dr Jim Wilson, Dr Aarathi Prasad, Professor Marcus Pembrey
Speaking at the Progress Educational Trust event Is There a Place for Race in Biology?
Photograph by Lahiru Dayananda

Left to right: Kerry Dyus, Sandy Starr, Professor Marcus Pembrey
At the Progress Educational Trust event Is There a Place for Race in Biology?
Photograph by Lahiru Dayananda

At lectern: Professor Marcus Pembrey
Speaking at the Progress Educational Trust's 2010 annual conference Passport to Parenthood: The Evidence and Ethics Behind Cross-Border Reproductive Care
Photograph by MacKenna Roberts

Left to right: Professor Marcus Pembrey, John Parsons, Sarah Norcross
At the Progress Educational Trust's 2010 annual conference Passport to Parenthood: The Evidence and Ethics Behind Cross-Border Reproductive Care
Photograph by MacKenna Roberts

Professor Marcus Pembrey
At the celebration of the 10th anniversary and 500th edition of the Progress Educational Trust's BioNews publication
Photograph by Ben Jones

Professor Marcus Pembrey
Speaking at the celebration of the 15th anniversary of the Progress Educational Trust
Photograph by Viscount Janric Craigavon