Dr James Mackay

MA, MD, FRCP, FRCPE
Oncologist/Geneticist

dr james mackay

Dr James Mackay was one of the first accredited Consultant Clinical Genetic Oncologists with a special interest in cancer genetics in the UK and is an honorary senior lecturer in the Research Department of Oncology, The UCL Cancer Institute, University College London. 

His clinical interests are cancer genetics, inherited cancer, cancer screening and the introduction of tumour genetic tests into clinical cancer care. Dr Mackay established regional cancer genetics services in East Anglia and North East Thames and developed a remote cancer genetics service, using real-time teleconferencing technology, based in Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Trust.

He was the clinical principal investigator of an evaluation of regular mammography in women under 50 with a family history of breast cancer funded by the NHS Research and Development Programme. He was a principal investigator in the UK Familial Ovarian Cancer Screening Study (UKFOCSS). He initiated the Genetic Breast Cancer Trial, which was a trial of chemotherapy in women with breast cancer, who carry a faulty breast cancer gene. This was the first randomised trial of chemotherapy based on inherited genetic make-up in the world.

He is on the advisory board of several UK cancer charities. He is on the Executive Committee of the Independent Doctors Federation, promoting excellence in the independent medical sector and is chairman of the IDF Regulation Committee, working closely with the Care Quality Commission.

He is an expert speaker for Myriad Genetics UK and Ireland and for Myriad Genetics International.

Areas of Specialist Interest

  • cancer genetics
  • family history clinics
  • family cancer risk
  • BRCA testing
  • inherited genetic panel testing
  • use of somatic genetic tests to provide further prognostic information