I am sure those of you who have had the privilege of knowing Professor Julian Sampson, either personally or professionally, will want to wish Julian a fond farewell as he departs his role as a Consultant within AWMGS at the end of June.
Julian has had an illustrious career working as a Clinical Geneticist at the School of Medicine at Cardiff University where he was formerly the Director of the Division of Cancer and Genetics in addition to serving as the Director of the Wales Gene Park until he later stepped down in 2019.
Julian has contributed extensively to research into tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), as the leader of the international consortium that identified the TSC2 gene and as an instrumental member of the consortium that discovered TSC1. He published the first reports of a contiguous deletion of TSC2 and PKD1 in patients with tuberous sclerosis and polycystic kidney disease. He subsequently led a team of researchers in Cardiff working on the cell biology of TSC, pre-clinical trials in transgenic mouse models and clinical trials including the TESSTAL and TRON trials of mTOR inhibitors in angiomyo-lipoma and neurocognitive function in TSC. He also led the development of the multidisciplinary TSC clinic in Cardiff and has been at the forefront of improving access to TSC medicines in Wales.
His other main research interest has been inherited polyposis syndromes and his team identified the MutYH gene, which causes MutYH-Associated Polyposis (MAP).
Speaking ahead of his departure, Head of Laboratories Sian Morgan said:
“Professor Sampson has championed and supported many of the All Wales Genetics Laboratory research and new service developments through his generous and encouraging leadership style. He has been a key contributor and link between NHS and academic ambition”.
Consultant Professor of Medical Genetics, Angus Clarke said:
“It has always been a pleasure to work with Julian in that he has been effective through working with people and supporting them and has not allowed tasks to get in the way of human relationships. I am full of gratitude for the numerous ways he has supported me - often unobtrusively, in the background - and I think that many on the university side of Medical Genetics will feel the same way”.
Dr Alex Murray, Consultant Clinical Geneticist and Head of Clinical Genetics said:
"On behalf of the whole service, I’d like to say a massive thank you to you, Julian, for your commitment and dedication over the many years you have been part of the AWMGS. You have supported so many patients and families and you will be greatly missed. You leave behind you a remarkable legacy”.
