About
Professor Veronica Kinsler is a clinician scientist and Professor at The Francis Crick Institute, where she serves as Senior Group Leader and Assistant Research Director. She also holds the Chair of Paediatric Dermatology and Dermatogenetics at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children (GOSH) and University College London (UCL). Her work focuses on serious children's skin diseases with cancer predisposition.
Her educational background includes:
- MA in Neurophysiology from University of Cambridge (1992)
- MB BChir in Medicine and Surgery from University of Cambridge (1994)
- PhD in Molecular Genetics from University College London (2012)
Professor Kinsler's research centers on untreatable children's skin diseases, particularly those involving mosaicism and genetic mutations. She investigates congenital melanocytic naevi, arteriovenous malformations, and other rare dermatological conditions that often involve multiple organ systems and carry cancer predisposition. Her work bridges clinical practice with molecular genetics to uncover disease mechanisms and develop targeted therapies. This research expands knowledge of somatic mutagenesis and human embryogenesis, with implications for understanding both rare diseases and broader cancer biology.
Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong focus on genetic mechanisms of mosaic disorders, particularly involving RAS pathway genes (NRAS, KRAS, BRAF) and G-protein signaling genes (GNAQ, GNA11). Her work increasingly emphasizes therapeutic applications, with multiple studies on targeted treatments including RNA therapy and MEK inhibition. There's a clear progression from basic genetic discovery to translational applications in her publication history.
Her scientific achievements include:
- Fellow of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (2016)
- NIHR Research Professorship (2021-2026)
- Wellcome Trust Research Training Fellowship (2008)
- Wellcome Trust Intermediate Clinical Fellowship (2015)
Professor Kinsler established and directs the GOSH Rare Dermatology Diseases Resource, an HTA tissue bank involving over 1,000 families. She leads the Kinsler Lab which works closely with patient groups including Caring Matters Now, the AVM Butterfly charity, and the Sturge-Weber Foundation. She also established and directs Naevus International, a cross-disciplinary worldwide initiative optimizing research dissemination and patient care. Her laboratory employs advanced genetic techniques and cellular models to identify disease causes and develop targeted treatments, with significant funding from NIHR and Wellcome Trust.
The Kinsler Lab operates as a multidisciplinary team combining clinical expertise with molecular genetics, bioinformatics, and drug screening capabilities. They maintain strong collaborations with international patient groups and have developed specialized resources including tissue banks and cellular models of rare diseases. The lab's work has direct clinical impact through the development of novel therapeutic approaches for conditions previously considered untreatable.
