Dr. Roger Cox FMedSci

Roger Cox is the Director of the Centre for Radiation Chemical & Environmental Hazards, Health Protection Agency and has made many important contributions to radiation protection research. In his early work he was one of the first to show that ionising radiation mainly causes mutations by gross DNA deletion. Another significant finding was the demonstration of decreased fidelity of rejoining of DNA double strand breaks in the cancer-prone radiosensitive human disorder, ataxia-telangiectasia. Roger Cox has published extensively on the mechanisms and genetics of radiation tumorigenesis and attendant aspects of low dose risk. Recent work with US collaborators provided evidence that functional polymorphism of the mouse gene encoding DNA-dependent protein kinase (required for end joining DNA double strand breaks) acts as a genetic modifier of radiation-induced mammary and intestinal tumorigenesis. He is also involved in studies on the potential health effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs). Recent work concerning risks of childhood leukaemia and the overall scientific basis of EMF exposure guidelines addresses issues of significant concern for public health. Roger Cox is a knowledgeable and level-headed scientist in a field where strong emotions and prejudices often are expressed.