The Centre for Life’s 25th anniversary also marks 25 since our genetics service re-located to the new science centre.
Thanks to our close partnership with Newcastle University, there have been some incredible research discoveries, from identifying a rare genetic disorder called neuroferritinopathy and finding that a daily dose of aspirin can help prevent bowel cancer in people with Lynch syndrome, to treatments for muscular dystrophy.
Behind these achievements is a team of 170 staff who each play a vital role in providing 9,500 patients each year with the best possible care and service.
This team includes clinical genetics doctors, counsellors, laboratory experts, administrative and clerical, physiotherapists, and more.
A listening ear for patients
Receiving the news that you have a rare disease can be a difficult time for both patients and their families. Lindsay O’Dair and Oonagh Claber, lead genetic counsellors, help people affected come to terms with their condition.
Lindsay started her genetic counselling career in Manchester in the early 90s. She joined the genetics team at the Centre for Life in 2002 when diagnostic genetic testing became more readily available.
She describes genetic counselling as the ‘perfect’ role, appealing to her scientific background and passion for working with people.
Oonagh became fascinated with genetics at the age of 16. Having worked in cancer research and then on a Department of Health (as it was then known) project, she started working in genetics in 1989.
Ten years later, Oonagh realised her life-long dream of becoming a genetic counsellor. She says that having a purpose-built facility like the Centre for Life helped the team grow and improve the way they worked.
Oonagh adds that she has “never wavered from my original enthusiasm to be a genetic counsellor all those years ago.” Lindsay says that she has always had “job satisfaction and no two days are the same.”
Dedicated experts at the forefront of genomics
The Newcastle NHS Genetics Laboratory processes an incredible 75,000 samples each year.
David Bourn is head of the laboratory, overseeing the lab team who helps to diagnose and treat patients with cancer and inherited disorders.
David started working in NHS genetics in the mid-90s before he joined the Centre for Life in 2004. Prior to this, he studied genetics in Leeds and was involved in research at Glasgow, Aberdeen and Newcastle universities.
David enjoys the opportunity to work with a dedicated and expert team of scientists and technologists who are using cutting-edge techniques to help diagnose and treat patients with cancer and inherited disorders.
Helping future geneticists
Richard Martin is a consultant clinical geneticist who has worked in the North East for 14 years, spending the last eleven working at the Centre for Life.
Richard sees many patients and families across the North East and north Cumbria, many of whom have inherited cancer, heart conditions, and other rare genetic conditions.
Over the years, Richard has seen the role of genomics in healthcare expand and grow, reflecting its importance in helping to best manage patients with rare and common conditions.
Richard is involved in education and training of future geneticists, and healthcare professionals who will be using genomic information in their role, contributing to both undergraduate and post-graduate programmes.
Invaluable support
For over 35 years, Janet Brooks and Trudy Shannon have provided invaluable administrative support to clinical colleagues, counsellors, and to their own team.
The pair are both senior medical secretaries who started working for genetics straight out of college. Janet’s started her career as clerical officer when she was 19, with then 18-year-old Trudy taking on an initial three-month contract to support lab administration.
The pair recall moving from Claremont Place to the Centre for Life and seeing their new location look a little ‘like a building site’.
They remember packing up many boxes of files and paper and creating a filing system when they arrived at the Centre for Life. After some initial reservations about the new office, they soon found their feet.
Janet and Trudy say their role gives them the opportunity to get to know patients who come to the centre, with some being under the care of clinicians for many years.
Truly unique
Dr Michael Wright is a consultant clinical geneticist and joint medical director at Newcastle Hospitals. He has seen how genetics has changed over the last 25 years.
Dr Wright trained as a paediatrician and has worked across the UK and United States. He became the trust’s medical director in 2024 but continues to work clinically within The Northern Genetics Service as a paediatric geneticist.
Commenting on the centre’s 25th anniversary, he said:
“The Centre for Life is truly unique in bringing together NHS genetics, university research, industry partners, and science education.
“Over the last 25 years, genetics has continued to play a vital role in how we identify and treat different diseases and conditions.
“Thanks to advances in research and technology, we are now able to provide more targeted treatments for patients with a genetic condition.
“We can also better predict how a condition could progress over time, helping patients and their families to plan for the future.”
