Rate My Professor Mark Arends

Mark Arends is Professor of Pathology and Head of Edinburgh Pathology at The University of Edinburgh, where he is based in the Cancer Research UK Scotland Centre within the Institute of Genetics and Cancer. He trained in Medicine, obtaining an MBChB with Honours, and in Pathology, obtaining a BSc with Honours and a PhD, all at the University of Edinburgh. He became a Senior Lecturer in the Edinburgh University Department of Pathology and an Honorary Consultant at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh in 1995, holding MRCPath and FRCPath qualifications. In 1999 he moved to the University of Cambridge as University Reader in Histopathology and Honorary Consultant at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, serving as lead pathologist in colorectal pathology, gynaecological pathology and bowel cancer screening pathology for Cambridge and the East of England. He returned to the University of Edinburgh in July 2013 as Professor of Pathology, Head of the Division of Pathology and Co-director of the Centre for Comparative Pathology.

Professor Arends’ research focuses on the genomic, genetic and epigenetic mechanisms underlying colorectal cancer and gynaecological cancer development and progression, including inherited susceptibility and the use of in vivo models of intestinal tumour formation. His work employs analysis of human cancer samples, cultured cells and model systems through comparative pathology, molecular pathology and digital pathology approaches. He has contributed to major publications on cancer classification, including chapters in the World Health Organization Classification of Tumours of the Digestive System, and has held leadership roles such as a three-year term as President of the Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland, after which he became General Secretary.