David van Heel

Professor David van Heel is a Professor of Genetics at Queen Mary University of London and an Honorary Consultant Physician at Barts Health NHS Trust. His research focuses on genomic medicine, particularly in British Bangladeshi and Pakistani communities, leveraging genetics and NHS health data. He leads the Genes & Health study, a longitudinal cohort of 60,000 volunteers, advancing clinical and genetic insights in underserved populations. His work on human knockouts and rare genetic variants has been transformative, including seminal studies in Science and Nature. Previously, he pioneered genetic research in celiac disease, identifying key immune-related genetic markers. He holds leadership roles at the Blizard Institute, served on the MRC Population and Systems Medicine Board (2016–2022), and was Deputy Chief Clinical Information Officer at Barts Health NHS Trust (2013–2024). His research bridges clinical practice and population health, addressing complex genetic and autoimmune disorders.

Education: Trained in clinical research through MRC and Wellcome Trust fellowships. Research interests include genomic studies of ethnic minorities, autoimmune disease genetics, and translational medicine.

Key contributions include over 10 high-impact papers in Nature, Nature Genetics, and Science, and the development of novel therapeutic approaches via genetic insights. His work on celiac disease epitopes led to clinical trials of immunotherapeutics. Ongoing projects emphasize precision medicine and population health equity.