Professor Nazneen Rahman

The aim of the Genetic Susceptibility Team is to identify, characterise and clinically implement genetic factors that predispose to cancer. We use multiple technologies and study a variety of cancers, particularly breast cancer, childhood cancers, ovarian cancer and testicular cancer.

We have had substantial success in identifying rare and common genetic and epigenetic factors that predispose to human disease and in developing clinical protocols and tests that are in use in the clinic.

The Clinical Cancer Genetics Unit, at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, is integrated within the academic research environment at the ICR, which facilitates rapid implementation of new genetic findings into clinical practice and offers unique opportunities to undertake clinical genetics research.

Professor Nazneen Rahman is Head of the Division of Genetics and Epidemiology at The Institute of Cancer Research and Head of the Cancer Genetics Clinical Unit at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust. She qualified in medicine from Oxford University in 1991, and undertook her general medical training in Oxford and London. Professor Rahman completed a PhD in Molecular Genetics in 1999.

In her research role, Professor Rahman leads two research groups which aim to identify genes that predispose to breast and/or childhood cancers. Thousands of families from throughout the UK are participating in her research, which has been highly successful in identifying new genes and genetic mechanism that cause cancer.

In her clinical role she is responsible for the cancer genetics service at The Royal Marsden, and she practises as a Consultant Clinical Geneticist at The Royal Marsden and St George’s Hospital.