Martin Bobrow

Professor Martin Bobrow

CBE FRS FMedSci

  • Position Emeritus Fellow

Martin was, until he retired, Head of the Department of Medical Genetics. He is Honorary Faculty at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute and Emeritus Professor of Medical Genetics, University of Cambridge.

Martin Bobrow

Martin graduated MB BCh BSc (Med) from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. Shortly thereafter he left South Africa and after a few years of medical practice he joined the MRC Population Genetics Research Unit in Oxford. When the unit closed, he transferred to the Department of Genetics in Oxford as MRC External Staff, and as a Consultant to the Oxford Health Authority.

In 1981 he was appointed Professor of Human Genetics at he University off Amsterdam; then Prince Philip Professor of Paediatric Research at Guys Hospital London (1983) and Professor of Medical Genetics at the University of Cambridge (1995).

He has been awarded FRCPath, FRCP, and FRCPCH. Martin was a Founder Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences and was elected FRS in 2004.

Martin was a member of MRC Council (1988-1994) and a Governor of the Wellcome Trust (1996-2007).  He was associated with the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign from 1980, and served as National Chairman from 1995-2011. Martin also chaired COMARE (the Committee on the Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment (1985-1992) and worked with other advisory committees. He served on the Nuffield Council of Bioethics from 1996-2003, and was Deputy Chair (2000-2003). He was a Non-Exececutive Director of Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust (2004-2014).

Research interests

Martin has, over the years, published on methods for identifying human chromosomes, particularly in interspecific hybrid cell lines which provided the first modern method for mapping human genes; gene mapping using molecular markers; molecular diagnostics of inherited diseases; and more recently on governance systems for the responsible use of large clinical genomic datasets addressing the tension between the need to preserve subject privacy and the need to maximise exploitation of research data.

What's on

Image 'Barbarians under the rug' by Enej Gala

Art Exhibition: 'After News Before Bed'

30/03/2024 at 10.00

Visit Wolfson's latest exhibition 'After News Before Bed' featuring work by emerging artist Enej Gala, winner of the Wolfson Royal Academy Schools Graduate Prize.

Photograph of a hand holding a lightbulb.

Testing Your Idea Workshop

06/04/2024 at 13.00

A transformative workshop exploring the art of finding repeatable and scalable business models.

A graphic overlay of a skeletal structure and a glowing heart on a person's torso.

Bone Breakdown and its Contribution to Atherosclerotic Heart Disease

09/04/2024 at 18.00

How may Bone Breakdown Contribute to Atherosclerotic Heart Disease?

A statue in front of a modern building with large windows and a clock on its façade, set within green landscaped grounds.

Wolfson College Writing Retreat

12/04/2024 at 09.30

Join us in April for Wolfson's first extended writing retreat! 

Photograph of a hand holding a lightbulb.

How To Get Investment Ready Workshop

13/04/2024 at 13.00

Level up your fundraising game with a workshop on market positioning, problem-solving, team optimisation, and financial readiness.

News