Joris Veltman

Professor Joris Veltman serves as Head of the School of Genetics and Cancer at the University of Edinburgh, leading a multidisciplinary research group focused on reproductive genomics and genomic medicine. His team collaborates extensively with NHS Lothian, UK fertility clinics, and international partners including Radboud University Medical Centre and Newcastle Fertility Centre to investigate genetic causes of reproductive disorders.

His research centers on identifying genetic mechanisms in severe male infertility through de novo mutations and structural variation analysis using short and long-read sequencing in patient-parent trios. Key interests include genomic technologies, disease gene identification, spermatogenesis, and clinical implementation of genetic diagnostics for reproductive medicine and rare diseases.

Recent publications (2022-2024) establish a de novo mutation paradigm for male infertility, demonstrating how advanced sequencing techniques reveal novel genetic pathways. Collaborative international studies highlight translational potential for diagnostic applications, with emphasis on trio-based genomic analysis and structural variant interpretation.

Veltman co-founded the International Male Infertility Genomics Consortium (IMIGC.org) to advance global research standards. His group receives funding from the Wellcome Trust and Medical Research Council, and is currently recruiting a lecturer, postdoctoral fellow, and PhD student to expand reproductive genomics research capacity.