Dr. Jane Green is a geneticist at Memorial University of Newfoundland whose research has made use of the unique features of the Newfoundland population – large family size, genetic isolates resulting in clusters of genetic disease, and well-documented migration patterns to, and within, the province. This research has enabled her to document the spectrum and variability of clinical disease within and between families, to collaborate on mapping relevant disease genes, to correlate clinical phenotype with specific mutations, and to apply this data to improved management of the genetic disorder, whether hereditary eye disease or hereditary cancer.

Dr. Green’s role in genetic research projects is the complete ascertainment and accurate clinical characterization of the family or families, and archival studies. She works closely with molecular geneticists and genetic counselors. Families participating in the research have benefited from clinical and genetic screening programs developed and implemented based on the research results.

Among the genetic diseases Dr. Green has helped research are hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer, Bardet-Biedl syndrome, hereditary eye disorders, and hereditary breast cancer. Her current work with hereditary breast cancer research involves education and dissemination of the information to clinicians and consumers to boost acceptance and reduce anxiety due to new advances. In the last five years Dr. Green has published 17 refereed papers, contributed one book chapter to a collective work, presented 19 abstracts and made 41 invited presentations.

Dr. Green did her B.Sc. (zoology) and M.Sc. (genetics) at the University of British Columbia in 1964 and 1966 respectively and moved to Newfoundland with her husband in 1967. She re-entered academic life in 1978 as a research assistant in ocular genetics and developed this into an independent research position. She became a faculty member in the Faculty of Medicine at Memorial University in 1988 and continued this position during her PhD program in medical genetics, which she completed in 1995. She is currently a professor of medical genetics in the Faculty of Medicine, cross-appointed to medicine and surgical ophthalmology.

Dr. Green is a member of many committees and holds numerous editorships and consultancies. In 2001 she was appointed to the CIHR Institute of Genetics Advisory Board and she is a member of the Provincial Advisory Committee on Genetics Research in Newfoundland. She has been involved in the development and provision of ocular genetics service since 1979 and in the development and provision of cancer genetics service within the Newfoundland Medical Genetics Program since 1990.