Professor of Medical Genetics and Cancer Epidemiology, The University of Manchester

Consultant in Medical Genetics and Cancer Epidemiology, Central Manchester Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and The Christie NHS Foundation Trust

Professor Evans has established a national and international reputation in clinical and research aspects of cancer genetics, particularly in neurofibromatosis and breast cancer. He has developed a clinical service for cancer genetics in the North West Region of England, which is nationally regarded. He is an important opinion leader nationally through membership of committees and was chairman of the NICE Familial Breast Cancer Guideline Development Group (2002-2010) and is now clinical lead (2011-). He lectures throughout the UK and internationally on hereditary breast cancer and cancer syndromes. He has given plenary lectures at many international meetings including the International Congress of Human Genetics and two invited lecture tours across Australia (1995, 2001). He has developed a national training program for clinicians, nurses and genetic counsellors in breast cancer genetics and established a system for risk assessment and counselling for breast cancer in Calman breast units implemented through a training course (1998-2011).

He has published 1046 peer reviewed research publications; 352 as first or senior author. He has published over 150 reviews and chapters and has had a book published by Oxford University Press on familial cancer. He has an ISI web of knowledge H-index of 131 and a google scholar H-index of 173 having only published his first article in 1990. In the last 8 years he has raised over £55 million in grants for multicentre and local studies – approximately £45 million to Manchester. He is Chief Investigator on two (£1.59 & £1 million) NIHR program grant (2009-2014 and 2016-2022) on breast cancer risk prediction and also has an NIHR RfPB grant as CI (2011).  He has led a successful bid for a Nationally funded NF2 service (£7.5 million pa) that started in 2010 and is involved in the national complex NF1 service. He is theme lead and cancer lead on the All Manchester NIHR Biomedical Research Centre worth £28.5 Million (2016-2020). He was elected a fellow of the learned Society of Wales (FLSW) in 2020 and FRCOG ad eundem in 2021

Research interests

• inherited breast and ovarian cancer and its imaging and prevention
• Neurofibromatosis types 1 and 2 and imaging
• Other inherited tumour predispositions

The main focus of research has been on genetic predisposition to breast cancer and type 2 neurofibromatosis. I have developed a national clinical and molecular database for NF2 which has become an invaluable research tool being the largest such database worldwide. We have also collected the largest number of breast cancer families UK wide which has meant we are the biggest contributor to a number of national breast cancer research initiatives (FBOC, EMBRACE, MARIBS, IMPACT). The focus of my research is moving away from clinical pattern recognition and gene identification towards cancer prevention. With Professor Howell we are setting up a major programme for breast cancer prevention in Manchester. This involves development of surrogate markers. As our clinical work has provided the largest number of families with known high risk breast cancer gene defects we are likely to lead prevention strategies in the UK from now on. Use of high tech MRI will also allow the proper assessment of non-surgical intervention in the treatment of benign brain tumours, with work in collaboration with Professor Jackson.

1. a) Medical student clinical course teaching (full year seminars). Medical student options two per year, 3 in 1995.

    b) MSc in genetic counselling

    c) teaching of registrar/SR grades internally + lectures to SHO and registrars in paediatrics and obstetrics.

    d) Postgraduate lectures throughout region.

    e) Postgraduate education representative of department.

2. a) FRCR in clinical oncology seminars - Christie hospital

     b) MSc in medical oncology seminars - Christie hospital

     c) MSc in cancer genetics - Royal Marsden hospital.

3. Devised and supervise Breast Cancer Genetics Training course for breast care nurses and clinicians. Approved by Director of Cancer Services (Region) and School of Nursing.

 

Dr Miriam Smith

Helen Byers

Dr Elaine Harkness

Dr Elke van Veen

Prof William Newman

Prof Tony Howell

Dr Sacha Howell

Prof Andrew King

Prof Omar Pathmanaban

Member and Ex Council Member of the Clinical Genetics Society

Member and Ex Chairman of the Cancer Genetics Group

Member and ex Council Member of the British Society of Genomic Medicine

Member European Society of Human Genetics

MB BS MRCP MD FRCP FRCOG ad eundem, FLSW

Director Nannerch Players

Ex Trustee Breast Cancer Now

Ex Trustee Neuro Foundation now chairman of Medical Advisory Board

Ex Trustee Hereditary Breast Cancer Helpline now medical advisor

Scientific Advisory Board Member Bowel Cancer UK

Trustee CB Wilson Trust

Trustee NF2 Biosolutions UK

Trustee Frances B Thornily  (FBT) trust

Advisor The Gorlin Group Scientific Advisor Prevent Breast Cancer