8 September 2021

Stepping down as Director of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Guy's and St Thomas' Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), Prof Matt Brown will bring his extensive knowledge and experience in genomics to this new role.

Prof Brown [pictured right] will succeed Prof Sir Mark Caulfield in this important role which he will take up in November 2021. Though he will be stepping down from his current role as Director of NIHR Guy's and St Thomas' BRC, he will retain affiliations with King's College London and Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust to continue his clinical and research activities. 

Prof Brown has a background in genomics and was previously Director of Genomics at the Queensland University of Technology, where his work involved sensitive engagement with indigenous communities on healthcare research. He has made contributions to the development of gene-mapping approaches in human diseases and genome-wide association study methodology, leading to the discovery of thousands of genetic variants, with a particular interest in ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis.

On his new appointment, Prof Matt Brown said:

I’m thrilled to be joining this iconic organisation and working with its outstanding staff to deliver on the amazing promise genomics has to improve diagnosis and management of a huge swathe of human diseases.

Genomics England’s Chief Executive Officer Chris Wigley said:

We’re delighted Professor Matt Brown has accepted this position providing the benefit of his scientific expertise, leadership, and knowledge of the research landscape. Genomics England’s vision is a world in which everyone has access to the benefits of genomics healthcare, and Matt can help us deliver on that vision.

Prof Ajay Shah, Executive Dean in Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King’s College London said:

We are very proud of Professor Brown’s appointment, in which he will lead on all scientific activities for Genomics England, including crucial projects looking at genome sequencing in rare disease, cancer and infection. Professor Brown will retain an important role at the university where he will continue to work on genomics related to conditions such as axial spondyloarthritis, a chronic back pain caused by inflammatory arthritis, and other important disease areas.