Gareth Jenkins (scientist)

Gareth Jenkins is a professor of molecular carcinogenesis at Swansea University Medical School. Based in the Institute of Life Science, his interests include the study of DNA mutation induction (genetic toxicology) and the role of DNA mutations as diagnostic biomarkers for cancer. He is also director of research of the medical school and a “research leader” for Health and Care Research Wales.[1] Jenkins' research gained much recognition during 2016 when his revolutionary cancer-detecting blood test was widely covered in the British press.[2][3]

Education and career

Jenkins undertook a joint Honours BSc in physics and biology (biophysics) at King's College London in 1987. Subsequent to this, he studied for an MSc in biotechnology (with business) at the University of West of England in 1991. He worked at Cardiff University in the Pure and Applied Biology Dept from 1992 to 1993 before moving to the Genetics Department at Swansea University to undertake a PhD under the supervision of Jim Parry. He joined the newly founded medical school in Swansea in 2004 as senior lecturer, appointed reader in 2007, then professor in 2010.

During the 2016 British Science Festival hosted in Swansea, Jenkins made national headlines during a presentation on his cancer-detecting blood test.[4][5][6]

Professional roles

Alongside his chair at Swansea University, Jenkins has been a member of the UK Government's Committee on Mutagenicity since 2009.[7] He was a member of the South West Wales Local Regional Ethics Committee (LREC) from 2005 to 2009. He was editor of the Elsevier journal Mutation Research (Genetic Toxicology and Environmental Mutagenesis) from 2013 to 2015 and is currently a senior editor of the journal Mutagenesis.[8] He has an Honorary position at Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University (ABMU) Health Board.[1]

Awards and honours

Young Scientist prize, United Kingdom Environmental Mutagen Society (UKEMS) 2002 and the European Environmental Mutagen Society (EEMS) 2003. Committee Member United Kingdom Environmental Mutagen Society (UKEMS) 2012-2015. Member; British Association of Cancer Research (BACR), United Kingdom Environmental Mutagen Society (UKEMS).

Other activities

Published book, Bile Acids: Toxicology and Bioactivity (2008), Royal Society of Chemistry Press.[9]

References
  1. "Professor Gareth Jenkins". www.swansea.ac.uk. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
  2. "Cancer 'smoke detector' test can spot the disease 10 years before symptoms appear". Retrieved 2 September 2017.
  3. "New Smoke Detector Test For Cancer - Cancer Research Wales". Retrieved 2 September 2017.
  4. "Scientists develop breakthrough cancer test that spots disease before you get symptoms". 6 September 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
  5. Thompson, Robert (7 September 2016). "Oesophageal cancer tests raise hopes for earlier detection". Retrieved 2 September 2017 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  6. "Swansea scientists discover 'quick' blood test that could save thousands of cancer patients". Retrieved 2 September 2017.
  7. "Membership - Committee on Mutagenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
  8. "Editorial_Board - Mutagenesis - Oxford Academic". academic.oup.com. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
  9. Jenkins, Gareth J.; Hardie, Laura J. (2 September 2017). Bile Acids: Toxicology and Bioactivity. Royal Society of Chemistry. ISBN 9780854048465. Retrieved 2 September 2017 – via Google Books.
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