University of Exeter Medical School

Dr Leigh Jackson

Dr Leigh Jackson

Lecturer in Genomic Medicine

 lj335@exeter.ac.uk

 01392 408328

 RILD Building 4.07

 

University of Exeter Medical School, RILD Building, RD&E Hospital Wonford, Barrack Road, Exeter, EX2 5DW, UK

Overview

Leigh has a combination of experience in both laboratory and social science settings. His current work involves investigating the penetrance of rare genetic variants in population cohorts and the implications for patient communication. His previous work around informed consent for genetic testing in research and the clinic was a natural extension of his time based in a research laboratory within Derby General Hospital, during which time he was responsible for obtaining informed consent to participate in genetic research from women undergoing clinical treatment. Closely working with NHS scientists, nurses, midwives and surgeons within the 100,000 Genomes Project, as well as in fertility and oncology contexts has given Leigh a sound understanding of the healthcare system – an absolute necessity for health services research. His progression into social science research has been helped enormously by his involvement in a number of pan-European, multi-disciplinary, multi-partner projects where he has worked alongside the preeminent clinical, ethical and social researchers in genomics. Working with human stem cells for many years gave Leigh invaluable insight into the myriad ethical issues and concerns which closely mirror those surrounding the current debate on genome-wide technologies. Leigh has experience of conducting systematic reviews, and both qualitative thematic analysis and quantitative analysis of large datasets, including UK Biobank data.

In 2014, Leigh volunteered to be deployed to Sierra Leone as part of the Public Health England response to the Ebola epidemic. He worked as part of a team to establish a rural field lab in a treatment centre testing samples from the local community for Malaria and Ebola.

Leigh currently lectures on a number of undergraduate and post-graduate modules giving him experience of teaching to both student and fully qualified healthcare professionals. He has received positive feedback from students and course leads, and in March 2015 he was nominated for an SSTAR staff award for outstanding contribution to University life. Leigh also leads the Gen-Equip project delivering genetics education to primary care which received the 2017 European Health Award from the European Health Forum Gastein.

Leigh has supervised two PhD students to successful completion and has another student who has just started, along with a large number of MSc students; in previous roles Leigh has been responsible for the training and supervision of:

•           Medical doctorate students on their 6-month laboratory placements

•           PhD students

•           Master’s students

•           Undergraduate project students.

Qualifications

  • BSc (Hons) Genetics
  • PgCert Genomic Medicine
  • PgCert Academic Practice
  • PhD Human Development

Grants/Funding:

  • Sanctuary PhD Scholarship award (primary supervisor) £90,000. Pharmacogenomic risk genotypes in UK Biobank
  • Science foundation Ireland, €48750 (Co-investigator) Developing resources and touring Southern Ireland regarding the options available for genetic testing around and during pregnancy. (Project not yet commenced due to referendum)
  • Gastein Forum, European Health Award, €10,000 2017
  • Astra Zeneca unrestricted educational grant, £43,492 (Co-investigator) 2015
  • ERASMUS + GenEquip project grant €246,748 (named researcher) 2014
  • Plymouth University Pump-priming grant 2014
  • Visiting researcher fellowship, Brocher Foundation, Geneva.  March-April 2014
  • EU COST CHIP-ME project grant (UK substitute management committee member) €36,000,000 2013
  • EU TEMPUS MedGen project grant (Project council member and named researcher)  €742,877 2013
  • Plymouth University Social Science collaboration fund 2012-2013
  • Plymouth University Pump-Priming grant 2011-2012

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Research

Research interests

  • Penetrance of rare genetic variants in population cohorts
  • Incidental and secondary findings from genomic testing
  • Patient communication of risk
  • Pharmacogenomic risk variants and duty to disclose to research participants
  • Genomics education interventions for healthcare professionals

Research projects

Current Projects:

  • Assessing the prevalence, penetrance and pathogenicity of rare genomic variants in UK Biobank
  • Assessing the prevalence of genotypes conferring a risk of severe adverse drug reaction in participants of UK Biobank and determining if and where a risk threshold exists to require ethical disclosure of this information

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Publications

Journal articles

Weedon M, Jackson L, Harrison J, Ruth K, Tyrrell J, Hattersley A, Wright C (In Press). Use of SNP chips to detect rare pathogenic variants: retrospective, population based diagnostic evaluation. BMJ: British Medical Journal
Jackson L, Weedon MN, Green HD, Mallabar-Rimmer B, Harrison JW, Wood AR, Ruth KS, Tyrrell J, Wright CF (2024). Response to Penetrance estimates of hereditary cancers in a population setting using UK Biobank data. BJC Reports, 2(1).
Jackson L, Weedon MN, Green HD, Mallabar-Rimmer B, Harrison JW, Wood AR, Ruth KS, Tyrrell J, Wright CF (2023). Influence of family history on penetrance of hereditary cancers in a population setting. eClinicalMedicine, 64, 102159-102159.
Cotton S, McHugh MP, Dewar R, Haas JG, Templeton K, Consortium TCGU, Robson SC, Connor TR, Loman NJ, Golubchik T, et al (2023). Investigation of hospital discharge cases and SARS-CoV-2 introduction into Lothian care homes. Journal of Hospital Infection, 135, 28-36.
Mokbel K, Daniels R, Weedon MN, Jackson L (2022). A Comparative Safety Analysis of Medicines Based on the UK Pharmacovigilance and General Practice Prescribing Data in England. In Vivo, 36(2), 780-800. Abstract.  Author URL.
Kläser K, Molteni E, Graham M, Canas LS, Österdahl MF, Antonelli M, Chen L, Deng J, Murray B, Kerfoot E, et al (2022). COVID-19 due to the B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant compared to B.1.1.7 (Alpha) variant of SARS-CoV-2: a prospective observational cohort study. Scientific Reports, 12(1). Abstract.
Nickbakhsh S, Hughes J, Christofidis N, Griffiths E, Shaaban S, Enright J, Smollett K, Nomikou K, Palmalux N, Tong L, et al (2022). Genomic epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in a university outbreak setting and implications for public health planning. Scientific Reports, 12(1). Abstract.
Robson SC, Connor TR, Loman NJ, Golubchik T, Martinez Nunez RT, Bonsall D, Rambaut A, Snell LB, Ludden C, Corden S, et al (2022). Publisher Correction: Genomic reconstruction of the SARS CoV-2 epidemic in England. Nature, 606(7915), e18-e18.
Willett BJ, Grove J, MacLean OA, Wilkie C, De Lorenzo G, Furnon W, Cantoni D, Scott S, Logan N, Ashraf S, et al (2022). Publisher Correction: SARS-CoV-2 Omicron is an immune escape variant with an altered cell entry pathway (Nature Microbiology, (2022), 7, 8, (1161-1179), 10.1038/s41564-022-01143-7). Nature Microbiology, 7(10). Abstract.
Wilkinson SAJ, Sparks N, Kele B, Peacock TP, Robson SC, Connor TR, Loman NJ, Golubchik T, Martinez Nunez RT, Bonsall D, et al (2022). Recurrent SARS-CoV-2 mutations in immunodeficient patients. Virus Evolution, 8(2). Abstract.
Willett BJ, Grove J, MacLean OA, Wilkie C, De Lorenzo G, Furnon W, Cantoni D, Scott S, Logan N, Ashraf S, et al (2022). SARS-CoV-2 Omicron is an immune escape variant with an altered cell entry pathway. Nature Microbiology, 7(8), 1161-1179. Abstract.
Eales O, Page AJ, de Oliveira Martins L, Wang H, Bodinier B, Haw D, Jonnerby J, Atchison C, Robson SC, Connor TR, et al (2022). SARS-CoV-2 lineage dynamics in England from September to November 2021: high diversity of Delta sub-lineages and increased transmissibility of AY.4.2. BMC Infectious Diseases, 22(1). Abstract.
Goodman S, Skirton H, Jackson L, Jones RB (2021). Development of a secure website to facilitate information sharing in families at high risk of bowel cancer— the familyweb study. Cancers, 13(10). Abstract.
Elliott P, Haw D, Wang H, Eales O, Walters CE, Ainslie KEC, Atchison C, Fronterre C, Diggle PJ, Page AJ, et al (2021). Exponential growth, high prevalence of SARS-CoV-2, and vaccine effectiveness associated with the Delta variant. Science, 374(6574). Abstract.  Author URL.
Godino L, Turchetti D, Jackson L, Hennessy C, Skirton H (2021). Genetic counselling as a route to enhanced autonomy: using a sequential mixed methods research approach to develop a theory regarding presymptomatic genetic testing for young adults at risk of inherited cancer syndromes. Journal of Community Genetics, 12(4), 685-691.
Vöhringer HS, Sanderson T, Sinnott M, De Maio N, Nguyen T, Goater R, Schwach F, Harrison I, Hellewell J, Ariani CV, et al (2021). Genomic reconstruction of the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in England. Nature, 600(7889), 506-511. Abstract.
de Silva TI, Liu G, Lindsey BB, Dong D, Moore SC, Hsu NS, Shah D, Wellington D, Mentzer AJ, Angyal A, et al (2021). The impact of viral mutations on recognition by SARS-CoV-2 specific T cells. iScience, 24(11). Abstract.
Turner H, Jackson L (2020). Evidence for penetrance in patients without a family history of disease: a systematic review. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HUMAN GENETICS, 28(5), 539-550.  Author URL.
Godino L, Turchetti D, Jackson L, Hennessy C, Skirton H (2019). Presymptomatic genetic testing for hereditary cancer in young adults: a survey of young adults and parents. European Journal of Human Genetics, 27(2).
Carrieri D, Howard HC, Benjamin C, Clarke AJ, Dheensa S, Doheny S, Hawkins N, Halbersma-Konings TF, Jackson L, Kayserili H, et al (2019). Recontacting patients in clinical genetics services: recommendations of the European Society of Human Genetics. European Journal of Human Genetics, 27(2).
Jackson L, O'Connor A, Paneque M, Curtisova V, Lunt PW, Pourova RK, Macek MJ, Stefansdottir V, Turchetti D, Campos M, et al (2019). The Gen-Equip Project: evaluation and impact of genetics e-learning resources for primary care in six European languages (vol 21, pg 718, 2018). GENETICS IN MEDICINE, 21(7), 1669-1669.  Author URL.
Vears DF, Senecal K, Clarke AJ, Jackson L, Laberge AM, Lovrecic L, Piton A, Van Gassen KLI, Yntema HG, Knoppers BM, et al (2018). <i>Points to consider</i> for laboratories reporting results from diagnostic genomic sequencing. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HUMAN GENETICS, 26(1), 36-43.  Author URL.
Godino L, Jackson L, Turchetti D, Hennessy C, Skirton H (2018). Decision making and experiences of young adults undergoing presymptomatic genetic testing for familial cancer: a longitudinal grounded theory study. European Journal of Human Genetics, 26(1).
Carrieri D, Jackson L, Bewshea C, Prainsack B, Mansfield J, Ahmad T, Hawkins N, Kelly S (2018). Ethical issues in genomic research: Proposing guiding principles co-produced with stakeholders. Clinical Ethics, 13(4), 194-198.
Jackson L, O’Connor A, Paneque M, Curtisova V, Lunt PW, Pourova RK, Macek M, Stefansdottir V, Turchetti D, Campos M, et al (2018). The Gen-Equip Project: evaluation and impact of genetics e-learning resources for primary care in six European languages. Genetics in Medicine, 1-1.
Borry P, Bentzen HB, Budin-Ljøsne I, Cornel MC, Howard HC, Feeney O, Jackson L, Mascalzoni D, Mendes Á, Peterlin B, et al (2018). The challenges of the expanded availability of genomic information: an agenda-setting paper. Journal of community genetics, 9(2), 103-116.
Wassall R, Jackson L, Prasad S, Homfray T, Skirton H (2017). Health care for young adults undergoing predictive genetic testing for cardiomyopathies. British Journal of Cardiac Nursing, 12(8), 378-386.
Paneque M, Cornel MC, Curtisova V, Houwink E, Jackson L, Kent A, Lunt P, Macek M, Stefansdottir V, Turchetti D, et al (2017). Implementing genetic education in primary care: the Gen-Equip programme. Journal of community genetics, 8(2), 147-150.
Paneque M, Turchetti D, Jackson L, Lunt P, Houwink E, Skirton H (2016). A systematic review of interventions to provide genetics education for primary care. BMC family practice, 17(1).
Pisnoli L, O’Connor A, Goldsmith L, Jackson L, Skirton H (2016). Impact of fetal or child loss on parents’ perceptions of non-invasive prenatal diagnosis for autosomal recessive conditions. Midwifery, 34, 105-110.
Hennessy C, Jackson L, Turchetti D, Godino L, Skirton H (2016). Impact of presymptomatic genetic testing on young adults: a systematic review.
Godino L, Turchetti D, Jackson L, Hennessy C, Skirton H (2016). Impact of presymptomatic genetic testing on young adults: a systematic review. European Journal of Human Genetics, 24(4).
Skirton H, Jackson L (2015). Factors Affecting the Clinical Use of Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing.
Jackson L, O'Connor A, Goldsmith L, Skirton H (2015). Management of Incidental Findings from Genetic Tests: Perspectives of Ethics Committee Members. Journal of Clinical Research & Bioethics, 6(3).
Skirton H, Goldsmith L, Jackson L, Lewis C, Chitty LS (2015). Non‐invasive prenatal testing for aneuploidy: a systematic review of Internet advertising to potential users by commercial companies and private health providers. Prenatal diagnosis, 35(12), 1167-1175.
O'connor A, Jackson L, Goldsmith L, Skirton H (2014). Can I get a retweet please? Health research recruitment and the Twittersphere. Journal of advanced nursing, 70(3), 599-609.
Skirton H, Goldsmith L, Jackson L, Lewis C, Chitty L (2014). Erratum: Offering prenatal diagnostic tests: European guidelines for clinical practice. European Journal of Human Genetics, 22(5), 714-714.
Jackson L, Goldsmith L, Skirton H (2014). Guidance for patients considering direct-to-consumer genetic testing and health professionals involved in their care: development of a practical decision tool. Family practice, 31(3), 341-348.
Skirton H, Goldsmith L, Jackson L, Lewis C, Chitty L (2014). Offering prenatal diagnostic tests: European guidelines for clinical practice. European Journal of Human Genetics, 22(5).
Patel SK, Jackson L, Warren AY, Arya P, Shaw RW, Khan RN (2013). A role for two‐pore potassium (K2P) channels in endometrial epithelial function. Journal of cellular and molecular medicine, 17(1), 134-146.
Skirton H, Jackson L, Goldsmith L, O’Connor A (2013). Are health professionals ready for direct-to-consumer genetic and genomic testing?. Personalized medicine, 10(7), 673-682.
Skirton H, Goldsmith L, Jackson L, O'Connor LA (2013). Direct to Consumer Genetic Testing: a Systematic Review of Position Statements, Policies and Recommendations (vol 68, pg 16, 2013). OBSTETRICAL & GYNECOLOGICAL SURVEY, 68(2), 160-162.  Author URL.
Goldsmith L, Jackson L, O’Connor A, Skirton H (2013). Direct-to-consumer genomic testing from the perspective of the health professional: a systematic review of the literature. Journal of community genetics, 4(2), 169-180.
Skirton H, Goldsmith L, Jackson L, O'Connor LA (2013). Erratum: Direct to consumer genetic testing: a systematic review of position statements, policies and recommendations (Obstetrical and Gynecological Survey (2013) 68:1 (16-18)). Obstetrical and Gynecological Survey, 68(2), 160-162.
Innamaa A, Jackson L, Asher V, Van Schalkwyk G, Warren A, Keightley A, Hay D, Bali A, Sowter H, Khan R, et al (2013). Expression and effects of modulation of the K2P potassium channels TREK-1 (KCNK2) and TREK-2 (KCNK10) in the normal human ovary and epithelial ovarian cancer. Clinical and Translational Oncology, 15(11), 910-918.
Innamaa A, Jackson L, Asher V, Van Shalkwyk G, Warren A, Hay D, Bali A, Sowter H, Khan R (2013). Expression and prognostic significance of the oncogenic K2P potassium channel KCNK9 (TASK-3) in ovarian carcinoma. Anticancer research, 33(4), 1401-1408.
Goldsmith L, Woodward V, Jackson L, Skirton H (2013). Informed consent for blood tests in people with a learning disability. Journal of advanced nursing, 69(9), 1966-1976.
Skirton H, Goldsmith L, Jackson L, O'Connor LA (2013). Perinatal outcome in women treated with progesterone for the prevention of preterm birth: a meta-analysis: Editorial comment. Obstetrical and Gynecological Survey, 68(1), 20-22.
Skirton H, Goldsmith L, Jackson L, Tibben A (2013). Quality in genetic counselling for presymptomatic testing—clinical guidelines for practice across the range of genetic conditions. European Journal of Human Genetics, 21(3).
Skirton H, Jackson L (2013). Utility and limitations of genetic/genomic information and testing. Nursing Standard (through 2013), 28(13).
Innamaa A, Jackson L, Asher V, van Shalkwyk G, Warren A, Hay D, Bali A, Sowter H, Khan R (2013). expression and function of the two pore potassium (k2p) channels Trek-1 (kcnk2), Trek-2 (kcnk10) and Task-3 (kcnk9) in ovarian cancer. Bjog: an International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 120(9), e5-e6.
Rashidi H, Strohbuecker S, Jackson L, Kalra S, Blake AJ, France L, Tufarelli C, Sottile V (2012). Differences in the pattern and regulation of mineral deposition in human cell lines of osteogenic and non-osteogenic origin. Cells Tissues Organs, 195(6), 484-494.
Skirton H, Goldsmith L, Jackson L, O'Connor A (2012). Direct to consumer genetic testing: a systematic review of position statements, policies and recommendations. Clinical genetics, 82(3), 210-218.
Goldsmith L, Jackson L, O'connor A, Skirton H (2012). Direct-to-consumer genomic testing: systematic review of the literature on user perspectives. European Journal of Human Genetics, 20(8).
Skirton H, Jackson L, Goldsmith L, O’Connor A (2012). Genomic medicine: what are the challenges for the National Health Service?. Personalized medicine, 9(5), 539-545.
Jackson L, Goldsmith L, O'connor A, Skirton H (2012). Incidental findings in genetic research and clinical diagnostic tests: a systematic review. American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A, 158(12), 3159-3167.
Jackson L, Jones DR, Scotting P, Sottile V (2007). Adult mesenchymal stem cells: differentiation potential and therapeutic applications. Journal of postgraduate medicine, 53(2).
Jackson L (2001). Incidental Findings in Genetic Research and Genetic Testing. eLS

Chapters

Morrison M, Teare H, Bertier G, Buchanan J, Bylstra Y, Gaff C, Jackson L, Kato K, Kaufmann E, Kelly S, et al (2020). Chapter 8 Implications of secondary findings for clinical contexts. In  (Ed) Secondary Findings in Genomic Research, Elsevier, 155-201.

Conferences

Eddy S, Jackson LM (2019). The concept of 'emotional distress' as a measure of outcome when assessing the impact of genetic test results; a systematic review.  Author URL.
Vears D, Sénécal K, Clarke A, Yntema H, Jackson L, Lovrecic L, Piton A, Van Gassen K, Knoppers B, Borry P, et al (2017). Recommendations for the reporting of results from diagnostic next generation sequencing.

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External Engagement and Impact

Invited lectures

  • Invited lecture and workshop at EU funded Pharmacogenomics summer school, 2018
  • Invited expert observer for launch of EU H2020 SIENNA project on ELSI in genomics and AI, 2018
  • Expert workshop on NGS reporting considerations, Paris 2017
  • Invited oral presentation on Gen-Equip project at ESHG conference, Copenhagen 2017
  • ESHG young investigator award shortlist 2017
  • Invited talk on genetic ethics at London Virology Discussion Group annual conference, 2016
  • Invited oral presentation on genetic education at ESHG conference, Barcelona, 2016
  • ESHG EMPAG young investigator award shortlist 2016
  • Invited talk at Brocher Foundation governance of patient-centric initiatives meeting, 2015
  • Expert tutor at EU CHIP-ME genome ethics summer school, Aegina, 2015
  • Invited talk on genetic incidental findings at World Health Organisation (WHO), Geneva. April 2014
  • ESHG young investigator award shortlist 2013
  • Invited oral presentation at ESHG conference, Paris. June 2013
  • Invited speaker at EuroGentest annual scientific meeting, Prague. March 2013
  • Poster prize winner – UK Genomics Forum, London. April 2012
  • Invited oral presentation – ESHG conference, Nuremburg. June 2012

Media Coverage

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Teaching

Teaching responsibilities: (Undergraduate, Postgraduate)

 Undergradute

  • Co-lead of Medical Genomics module
  • Delivers sessions on Medical Genetics and Pharmacogenomics modules

Postgraduate

  • Module lead for ELSI of Genomics module
  • Delivers sessions on Fundamentals of Human Genomics, Omics Techniques and their Application to Genomic Medicine, Pharmacogenomics and Counselling Skills for Genomics

Modules

2023/24


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