Paul Lacaze

Associate Professor Paul Lacaze is a pioneering researcher in public health genomics and population DNA screening. He holds a prestigious Heart Foundation Future Leader Fellowship and is the Cheif Investigator A (CIA) of the landmark DNA Screen national pilot study, offering preventive population DNA screening to 10,000 healthy adults for medically actionable conditions. Lacaze is also CIA of the Australian Genetics and Life Insurance Moratorium: Monitoring the Effectiveness and Response (A-GLIMMER) project. Lacaze leads the genomics research program for the ASPREE study, Australia’s largest randomised trial and genomic cohort of ageing. Lacaze is one of few Australian researchers to have designed, executed and analysed large genomic cohort studies (N > 10,000) within his own group. He also leads a parallel research stream focused on ethical, legal, social, health-economic and policy aspects of human genomics. He is an Affiliate Faculty Member, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, USA, an Honorary Fellow, Adult Genomic Medicine, Royal Melbourne Hospital, and a visiting Scientist, Garvan Institute of Medical Research. 

A/Prof Lacaze regularly works with patient groups to deliver patient-centred research and advocate for issues in Australia. This includes working with the Familial Hypercholesterolemia Network Australia, Pink Hope, Lynch Syndrome Australia and Rare Voices Australia. Lacaze founded the Australian Genetic Non-Discrimination Working Group, and on behalf of the group, provided evidence to the 2017 Parliamentary inquiry into life insurance (Canberra). This has led to a moratorium on the use of genetic test results in Australian life insurance, is now directly benefiting Australian consumers, clinicians and researchers. Lacaze was recently selected to represent the Australian Cardiovascular Alliance as an EMCR at the Science Meets Parliament event in Canberra. Lacaze serves on the Scientific and Medical Advisory Committee of Rare Voices Australia.