Medical Genetics

Medical genetics is the scientific discipline concerned with the role of genetics in health and disease, from the inherited conditions that affect individuals and families to the genetic basis of complex diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular conditions. It draws on molecular biology, cell biology, genomics, and clinical medicine to understand how genetic variation influences disease risk and progression, and to develop the diagnostic tools, risk assessments, and therapeutic approaches that can improve patient outcomes.

At Queen Mary University of London, this four-year, full-time programme is taught by academics at the forefront of genetics research, including those working on some of the most important questions in cancer biology and genomic medicine. You will develop a thorough understanding of molecular and cellular biology, genomics, inheritance, genetic diseases, and the clinical applications of genetic knowledge, alongside the research skills and scientific reasoning that the discipline demands. Queen Mary's research environment means you will learn from scientists who are actively advancing the knowledge base of the field, including recent breakthroughs in understanding how molecular mechanisms can prevent genetic errors during cell division with implications for cancer treatment.

Graduates go on to careers in genomics, clinical genetics laboratories, pharmaceutical research, biotechnology, and genetic counselling. The NHS Genomics Medicine Service and associated clinical genetics departments are significant employers, and the pharmaceutical and biotech industries offer a wide range of research and development roles. Many graduates continue to postgraduate study or clinical training, and some pursue research doctorates that allow them to contribute directly to the expanding frontier of genomic medicine.

Medical genetics is one of the fastest-moving areas of biological science, and its graduates are at the centre of healthcare's most significant transformation.