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Health Check: Genetics Expert Pioneered Testing For Cancer

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Professor Sir John Burn

2018/04/04 GMT

Genetics Expert Pioneered Testing For Cancer

BBC World Service - Health Check, Genetics Expert Pioneered Testing For Cancer

The British doctor who pioneered genetic testing to help prevent cancer

A profile of Professor John Burn, the British doctor who pioneered genetic testing to prevent inherited forms of cancer.

Genetic testing for inherited forms of cancer was pioneered in the UK by Professor Sir John Burn.  He tells Professor Jim Al-Khalili how he helped to put the north eastern city of Newcastle-upon-Tyne on the research map – after becoming one of the first British doctors to champion the study of genes in medicine back in the 1980s. 

His recent research with families with a propensity to develop certain cancers has shown the benefits of taking aspirin as a prevention against the disease.  He says following families for genetic research in his part of the world is made easier because people tend not to move away. 

He was part of the team that set up the Centre for Life on derelict industrial land near the River Tyne where every year a quarter of a million visitors can watch research in action in the public science centre.   John Burn was one of first 20 'local heroes' to have a brass plaque on Newcastle Quayside in 2014, alongside Cardinal Hume, Alan Shearer and the singer Sting.

He’s now developing a way of doing DNA testing at the bedside in just fifteen minutes.

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