Richard Trembath

Professor Richard Trembath is a Professor of Medical Genetics at King's College London (KCL), where he has served since 2005. Previously, he held the Foundation Chair of Medical Genetics at the University of Leicester from 1992. Trembath has held significant leadership positions including Head of Division of Genetics & Molecular Medicine (2008-11), founding Director of the KCL/GSTT NIHR Comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre, Senior Vice President (SVP) for Life Sciences & Health, and Executive Director of King's Health Partners Academic Health Science Centre. Prior to joining King's, he was Vice-Principal for Health at Queen Mary University London and Executive Dean of Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry.

His educational background includes medical training at Guy's Hospital Medical School followed by postgraduate training at the Institute of Child Health. Trembath is a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences and King's College London.

Richard Trembath's research focuses on identifying human disease genes using established and emerging technologies. His work spans rare medical conditions such as pulmonary arterial hypertension to more common disorders including psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and acne. He co-founded the East London Genes and Health project, one of the world's largest community-based genetics studies funded by the Wellcome Trust, aimed at improving health among people of Pakistani and Bangladeshi heritage in East London. His research employs genome-wide association studies, whole-genome sequencing, and polygenic risk score analysis to understand the genetic architecture of various diseases.

His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on pulmonary arterial hypertension, psoriasis, and the genetic factors influencing responses to diseases like COVID-19. His work often involves large international consortia and emphasizes population-specific genetic research, particularly with British South Asian populations.

• Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences
• Fellow of King's College London

Professor Trembath has led major research initiatives including the East London Genes and Health project, which has enrolled over 50,000 participants. His work has been supported by major funding bodies including the Wellcome Trust and the National Institute for Health Research. He has played a key leadership role in establishing research infrastructure at King's College London, drawing together the university with major NHS Trusts to accelerate health innovation.

His laboratory has made significant contributions to understanding the genetic basis of pulmonary arterial hypertension, identifying rare variants in genes like KDR, FBLN2, and PDGFD. His team has also pioneered research on polygenic risk scores in British Pakistani and Bangladeshi populations, demonstrating how genetic risk prediction can be adapted for diverse ethnic groups.