John Burn: Pet hate is risk averse bureaucracy

Biography

John Burn, 61, put clinical genetics on the map in his native northeast England, and his eloquence makes him an inspiring cheerleader for the subject. He set up the first consultant led service in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1984 and later (with others) created the Centre for Life in the city. His research now focuses on hereditary cancer, particularly Lynch syndrome (hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer), and his team has shown that aspirin can halve the risk of cancer in carriers of the gene. He also plays drums in a rock band.