David Porteous

David has made significant contributions to genomics and health sciences over his 30 year tenure at the University of Edinburgh. Appointed as chair of Human Molecular Genetics and Medicine in 1999 and later as centre director from 2003–2015 at the Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, he has been at the forefront of advancements in gene therapy, psychiatric genetics and population health genomics.

His early work on cystic fibrosis gene therapy included creating the first transgenic mouse model in 1992 and leading Scotland’s inaugural clinical gene therapy trial in 1995. This culminated in his co-founding the UK CF Gene Therapy Consortium. 

In the realm of psychiatric genetics, he played a pivotal role in discovering multiple risk genes for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. His team's identification of DISC1 in 2005 was recognized as one of the top breakthroughs by Science magazine and led to the IPSEN Neuronal Plasticity Prize in 2015.

David founded Generation Scotland in 2006, a major cohort study integrating genetic and environmental data from over 40,000 participants, supported by a £5 million Wellcome Trust award in 2019, for which he served as the principal investigator for nearly two decades.

He also established the Genetics Core at the Wellcome Trust CRF in 2000, contributed to national policy through the House of Commons select committee in 1999, and continues to serve on advisory bodies. His scholarly work includes over 400 publications.

A fellow of several prestigious societies and an OBE recipient in 2013, David has now retired but continues to contribute as an emeritus professor, mentor and advocate for Generation Scotland.