Our group is interested in quantifying the importance of genes in determining a person's risk of cancer (specifically, bowel cancer, melanoma and testis cancer). Our research considers genes associated with (i) high risk of cancer (high penetrance genes), (ii) genes with lesser effects (lower penetrance genes) and (iii) the joint effect of genes and environment. Studies of high risk genes involve the analysis of families with multiple cases of cancer and subsequent genetic linkage studies (currently being conducted for all three cancer sites) to identify currently unknown genes as well as detailed studies of the known high penetrance genes (especially for melanoma). The investigation of lower penetrance genes and gene-environment interactions involves case-control studies although statistical methodology investigations are in progress to improve the efficiency of procedures for the analysis of interactions between genes and environment. The population-based case-control series also allow the determination of the contribution of high penetrance genes. Finally, we are recruiting a cohort of melanoma patients with poor prognosis to investigate factors associated with improved/reduced prognosis. The group is also involved of clinical research into screening surveillance approaches for persons with a notable family history of cancer and chemoprevention for persons genetically predisposed (for bowel cancer, the CAPP Studies with Professor John Burn, Newcastle).

Future projects
Future projects are extensions of current projects and involve:

1. The examination of candidate lower penetrance genes for melanoma (e.g. skin pigmentation and DNA repair genes) and bowel cancer (e.g. DNA repair genes and genes mediating dietary exposures) and their interaction with environmental exposures (UV exposure for melanoma and diet for bowel cancer).

2. Investigating the genetic basis of testicular cancer.
   

3. Improving the statistical methodology and epidemiological designs available for the investigation of putative lower penetrance genes and their interaction with environmental exposures.
   iv. Determining factors associated with recurrence of melanoma among melanoma patients.