New Chair And Members Of The Human Genetics Commission Announced, UK

Main Category: Genetics
Article Date: 29 Jan 2009 - 2:00 PDT

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Health and Science Ministers announced the appointment of a new Chair and five new members to the Human Genetics Commission (HGC).

Professor Jonathan Montgomery, professor of Health Care Law at the University of Southampton and Chair of Hampshire Primary Care Trust has been announced as the Chair of the independent advisory body on developments in human genetics and their impacts on individuals and society.

The Human Genetics Commission's members include experts in clinical and research genetics, consumer affairs, ethics, law, industry and those with experience in genetic conditions. Established in 1999, the Commission reports to Health and Science Ministers and the Devolved Administrations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. A key role of the HGC is to promote public debate.

Professor Montgomery has served in non-executive director posts on NHS Trust boards since 1992 and as a Trust Chair from 1998, before moving to chair a Strategic Health Authority from 2004-06. He has also been Chair of the Southampton Local Research Ethics Committee and is the author of a leading textbook on Health Care Law.

The new members of the Commission are Professor Timothy Aitman, Professor Thomas Baldwin, Mrs Nicola Drury, Professor Anneke Lucassen and Dr Duncan McHale. An existing member, Mr Alastair Kent, was reappointed for an additional term.

Health Minister Dawn Primarolo said:
"There is enormous potential benefit from the wider use of genetic science within healthcare, medical research and other important fields.

"The Human Genetics Commission helps ensure the proper use of this new genetics knowledge.

"I am delighted that Professor Montgomery is going to lead the Commission into a new era of important work, identifying and meeting the ethical challenges in this area."

Science and Innovation Minister Lord Drayson said:
"Genetics is a fast moving area of biomedical research. For innovations to bear fruit, we need appropriate regulation, a clear ethical framework and public support.
"The Human Genetics Commission has a vital part to play on all three counts."

Professor Montgomery said:
"I am delighted to take up the Chair of the Human Genetics Commission at a time when our understanding of the human genome is beginning to deliver real benefits to individuals and society.

"The Commission is widely respected for the way in which it has identified and considered important issues arising from genetics, and for engaging the public in its deliberations. I look forward to the challenges ahead and to building on the excellent work of Baroness Helena Kennedy and Sir John Sulston."

Notes

1. Details of new Chair:

* Jonathan Montgomery is Professor of Health Care Law at the University of Southampton, Chair of Hampshire Primary Care Trust and of the Advisory Committee on Clinical Excellence Awards. He has served in non-executive director posts on NHS Trust boards since 1992 and as a Trust Chair from 1998 before moving to chair a Strategic Health Authority from 2004-06. He is the author of a leading textbook on Health Care Law and numerous articles. He has considerable experience of medical ethics and is a member of the Committee on the Ethical Aspects of Pandemic Influenza, and the Organ Donation Task Force. Previous service has included the Medical Ethics Committee of the British Medical Association, a Nuffield Council of Bioethics Working Party on Public Health Ethics, and the Ethics Advisory Group to the Care Records Development Board (part of NHS Connecting for Health). He has recently chaired a Strategy Committee on Brain Tissue Banking for the UK Clinical Research Collaboration. He has also been Chair of the Southampton Local Research Ethics Committee. In April 2005 he was elected to honorary fellowship of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.

2. Details of new Members:

* Professor Timothy Aitman - Professor of Clinical and Molecular Genetics at Imperial College London, and Head of the Physiological Genomics and Medicine Group at the MRC Clinical Sciences Centre. He is also lead clinician of services for management of Lipids and Cardiovascular Risk at the Hammersmith Hospital. Previously served on a number of advisory Boards including the British Heart Foundation Project Grants and Fellowships Committees. In 2008, he was appointed Specialist Adviser to the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee Inquiry on Genomic Medicine.

* Professor Thomas Baldwin - Professor of Philosophy, University of York, since 1995. He is currently editor of Mind, the leading philosophy journal. He was a member of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics (2000-06), of the HFEA (2001-05; Deputy Chair 2002-05), and of the UK Stem Cell Bank Steering Committee (2002-06). He is currently a member of the Government's Expert Advisory Committee on obesity.

* Mrs Nicola Drury - Genetic Counsellor Nottingham Regional Clinical Genetics Service and Genetic Education Facilitator East Midlands Region for NHS National Genetics Education and Development Centre (NGEDC).

* Professor Anneke Lucassen - Professor of Clinical Genetics and Honorary Consultant Clinical Geneticist, University of Southampton Cancer Sciences division and Wessex Clinical Genetics Service. Her main clinical and research interests are cancer and cardiac genetics, and the social, ethical and legal aspects of integrating genetics into mainstream medicine. She is co-chair of the Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust Clinical Ethics Committee and cofounder of the UK Genethics Club.

* Dr Duncan McHale - Vice President, Translational Science, AstraZeneca, Chair of the European Industry (EFPIA) Pharmacogenetics group, member of the International Conference on Harmonization genomics group and member of the MRC Pharmaceuticals Forum. He previously worked for Pfizer where he helped to set up the clinical pharmacogenetics group and becoming European Head of Clinical Pharmacogenetics (subsequently the Molecular Medicine Group).

* Mr Alastair Kent - Director of the Genetic Interest Group (GIG), the UK alliance of charities and support groups for people affected by genetic disorders. He previously worked for a number of voluntary organisations on issues concerning policy, service development and disabled people.

3. Appointments are initially for a term of three years. The Chair will receive £180.40 per day attendance fee. Members will receive £148.59 a day attendance fee.

4. All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees' political activity (if any declared) to be made public. Neither the Chair nor any of the Members appointed on this occasion have declared any political activity in the last five years.

5. Other ministerial appointments held:

* Professor Jonathan Montgomery - Hampshire PCT, £41,411pa; Advisory Committee on Clinical Excellence, £50,000pa
* Professor Timothy Aitman - None
* Professor Thomas Baldwin - HWHL Expert Advisory Group, unremunerated
* Mrs Nicola Drury - None
* Professor Anneke Lucassen - None
* Dr Duncan McHale - None
* Mr Alastair Kent -- None

6. All appointments were made in accordance with the Office of the Commissioner of Public Appointments (OCPA) Code of Practice.

7. Further information can be found on the HGC website http://www.hgc.gov.uk and further queries should be directed to the Department of Health media centre on 020 7210 5238.

Department of Health, UK