Title and address of our institution
St James’s University Hospital
Beckett Street
Leeds
West Yorkshire
UK
LS9 7TF

The name, address and contact e-mail, tel of the group leader
Professor Julia A. Newton Bishop
Melanoma Group Leader
Division of Genetic Epidemiology
Cancer Research UK Clinical Centre
Cancer Genetics Building
St James’s University Hospital
Beckett Street
Leeds
LS9 7TF

E-mail: julia.newton-bishop@cancer.org.uk
Phone: 44 (0)113 2064668
Secretary: 44 (0)113 2065816
Fax: 44 (0)113 2340183

A paragraph describing the group

The Division of Genetic Epidemiology in Leeds is involved in understanding and identifying genes predisposing to melanoma, breast, prostate, bowel and testis cancers. It is also involved in developing statistical methods and applying these methods to the cancers being studied.

The group is concerned with understanding how genes interact with lifestyle in determining risk of cancer.

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Melanoma research

In the melanoma group, lead by Professor Newton Bishop, we have studied high penetrance genes from families with multiple cases of melanoma. To investigate lower penetrance genes and the interaction between genes and the environment, we are currently recruiting a large cohort of melanoma patients, their families and matched population controls. We have also been studying patients who have relapsed with melanoma and will compare them to controls who have not relapsed in order to look at factors associated with prognosis.

Information for families with Melanoma

Contact for families who have taken part in this family research in the UK

If you participated in the melanoma study in the past in England and Wales and have not had any communication from this group recently, please be assured that we are in the process of attempting to re-contact all people who have previously helped us with our research. This however is taking quite a long time due to the large number of people involved.

We are attempting to write to all previous study participants to let them know where we are in relation to the research by offering a newsletter on our progress. We would also at this time like to re-consent all individuals to enable continued use of the information and blood samples given to us in the past.

We would also like to update the information held and will be offering a postal questionnaire followed by a telephone interview in order to do this. If you haven’t heard from us lately, this may be because we haven’t had the opportunity to re-contact your family as yet. If you have moved house in the intervening years, it may also be that we have been unable to locate you from the original details we hold.

If you would like to receive the newsletter and are happy for us to re-contact you, but would wish this to happen sooner rather than later, please don’t hesitate to contact Sister Linda Whitaker on 0113 2066117 or via email at linda.whitaker@cancer.org.uk

Related Links

Cancer Bacup
www.cancerbacup.org.uk/Home
This is the national cancer information service for people who have been diagnosed with cancer. There are comprehensive booklets for most of the cancers that can be ordered and information online about them. It also provides up-to-date information about trials and treatments.

Wessex Cancer Trust
www.wessexcancer.org
This is the UK’s only specialist skin cancer helpline and advice centre. The skin cancer section of the site provides information about the different skin cancers, skin disorders and sun protection.

Genetic Interest Group
www.gig.org.uk
This is a national alliance of patient organizations. Each of the organizations focuses on a different genetic disorder.

Human Genetics Commission
www.hgc.gov.uk
This is the UK government website on genetics.