David John Porteous


David John Porteous OBE is a Scottish geneticist known for work in the field of genetics. He is Professor Emeritus of Genetics at the University of Edinburgh.

Education

Porteous attended the Aberdeen Grammar School before attending the University of Edinburgh as an undergraduate specialising in genetics and a PhD in metabolic control analysis, under the supervision of Dr Henrik Kacser.

Professional life

Porteous has contributed to research projects in cystic fibrosis gene therapy and the first clinical trial of gene therapy in Scotland. In 2001, his group joined with researchers at Imperial College London and University of Oxford to form the UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium.
Porteous has contributed to research projects in psychiatric genetics. In collaboration with University of Edinburgh Professors of Psychiatry Douglas Blackwood and Andrew M. McIntosh, he identified genetic risk factors for major mental illness, most notably DISC1.
In 1999, Porteous initiated a population genetics research programme in Scotland called Generation Scotland, a family- and population-based study of genetic and environmental determinants of health and wellbeing.
Porteous was scientific advisor to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom Science, Innovation and Technology Select Committee that led to the establishment of the United Kingdom Human Genetics Commission.

Awards