Dr Mark Gormley
BDS (Hons), MMEd, MSt, PhD, MOral Surg, FHEA, FDS(OS) RCSEd
Expertise
Consultant Senior Lecturer and Programme Director in Oral Surgery, actively working as a dental educator and clinical researcher with a focus on head and neck cancer using genetic epidemiology approaches.
Current positions
Consultant Senior Lecturer
Bristol Dental School
Contact
Press and media
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Research interests
I am a Consultant Senior Lecturer and Programme Director in Oral Surgery. Following specialty training via an NIHR academic clinical fellowship, I completed a Masters in Genomic Medicine at the University of Cambridge and a Wellcome GW4-Clinical Academic Training PhD fellowship at the MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, Bristol.
My research focuses on head and neck cancer, employing novel genetic epidemiology methods to better understand risk and prognosis in this disease. This work utilises large international datasets for head and neck cancer, including Head and Neck 5000 and HEADSpace, conducted within the Epidemiology and health services research group and Bristol Population Health Science Institute.
As department lead for undergraduate Oral Surgery and Programme Director for the Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Oral Surgery, I have experience as both an academic and clinical supervisor and an active interest in dental education and pedagogy, ensuring teaching is based on the latest advances in practice.
I have served as a member of the British Association of Oral Surgeons council and spent three years as a Dental Specialty Ambassador for the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. I am currently the NIHR Regional Research Delivery Network Oral and Dental Specialty Lead for Southwest Central and a committee member for the Academy of Medical Sciences INSPIRE programme supporting medical, dental and veterinary undergraduate research.
Projects and supervisions
Research projects
World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF): How do metabolic traits effect risk and survival from head and neck cancer?
Role
Co-Investigator
Description
Background
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), at least 40% of all cancer cases may be preventable, with tobacco smoking, alcohol consumption and obesity identified as three of the most…Managing organisational unit
Bristol Dental SchoolDates
01/09/2024 to 31/08/2028
CRUK Integrative Cancer Epidemiology Programme (ICEP) funding: Using DNA methylation from saliva for outcome prediction in oral cancer
Principal Investigator
Description
Even for early stage (I/II) oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), 5-year survival rates remain poor at between 55-60% and loco-regional recurrence remains a major issue.1,2 No biomarkers currently exist…Managing organisational unit
Bristol Dental SchoolDates
30/06/2024 to 01/09/2025
Royal College of Surgeons of England FDS Pump-Priming Grant: Oropharyngeal cancer awareness and screening in dental settings
Principal Investigator
Description
This study aims to:
1) Conduct a systematic review and synthesis of oropharyngeal cancer awareness and screening in dental settings.
2) Build on initial consultations through in-depth qualitative interviews with members of…Managing organisational unit
Bristol Dental SchoolDates
03/05/2024 to 03/09/2025
Cancer Research UK Grant: Head and neck 5000 – Identifying factors affecting survival and secondary physical effects of treatment at 10 years.
Role
Co-Investigator
Description
Background
The incidence of head and neck cancer (HNC) is predicted to increase by 30% (over 1 million new cases annually) by 2030. Global five-year survival rates for HNC are known…Managing organisational unit
Bristol Dental SchoolDates
01/04/2023 to 31/03/2026
Academy of Medical Sciences GW4 INSPIRE Round 6
Role
Co-Investigator
Description
Rationale: To renew the Academy of Medical Sciences INSPIRE grant to help fund and support undergraduate medical, dental and veterinary research. This will include the addition of new activities such…Managing organisational unit
Bristol Dental SchoolDates
13/02/2023 to 13/02/2025
Publications
Selected publications
11/11/2022Reviewing the epidemiology of head and neck cancer
British Dental Journal
Smoking and alcohol by HPV status in head and neck cancer: a Mendelian randomization study
Nature Communications
Development and external validation of a head and neck cancer risk prediction model
Head and Neck
Recent publications
21/02/2025VOYAGER
Cross-ancestral GWAS identifies 29 variants across head and neck cancer subsites
Nature Communications
Reassessing the link between adiposity and head and neck cancer
eLife
Evolving Demographics of Head and Neck Mucosal Squamous Cancer
Otolaryngologic Clinics of North America
42.Mendelian Randomization
Vogel and Motulsky's Human Genetics: Problems and Approaches
Thesis
Using genetics to explore the effects of metabolic traits in head and neck cancer
Supervisors
Award date
24/01/2023
Related people
Dr Miranda Pring
Consultant Senior Lecturer in Oral Maxillofacial Pathology
Bristol Dental School
Professor Jonathan Reid
Professor
School of Chemistry
Dr Fergus Hamilton
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Dr Bryan Bzdek
Proleptic Associate Professor
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Mr Tom Dudding
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