Dr James Cox, 1979–Present
Researcher
James Cox attended schools in Leominster before studying Medical Science at the University of Birmingham. He went on to gain his Doctorate at Cambridge University before moving to London to carry out research into the genetics of pain. His later work identified a gene responsible for pain reception and the development of several pain-killing drugs.
James Cox lived in Leominster throughout his childhood and attended Leominster Infant and Junior Schools and the Minster College and Sixth Form (now Earl Mortimer). Having studied Biology, Chemistry and Maths at A-level, he then moved to the University of Birmingham to study Medical Science where he specialising in cell and molecular biology, graduating in 2001.
Inspired by Dr Tessa Webb to study the genetics of learning disability, James joined Prof Lucy Raymond’s team at the Department of Medical Genetics at the University of Cambridge, completing his Ph.D. in human molecular genetics in 2004.
In 2005, he was a founder member of Professor Geoff Woods’ University of Cambridge research team, investigating the genetic basis of several human disorders of the nervous system, including Insensitivity to Pain.
In order to focus on the genetics of pain James collaborated with, and then joined, Professor John Wood’s team at University College London where he identified the gene responsible for Familial Episodic Pain Syndrome. In 2011 James received support from the Medical Research Council to start his own research team.
Much of his work is now with individuals with inherited pain disorders, particularly those who are born with an inability to feel pain. Working with three families in northern Pakistan with this trait he was able to identify the gene responsible, and several pain-killing drugs targeting this gene are currently in clinical trials. His team have gone on the identify two further pain insensitivity genes.
In 2016 became a Senior Lecturer at University College London working within Professor John Wood’s Molecular Nociception Group.
Although James now lives in Ely, Cambridgeshire with his wife (also from Leominster) and son he has maintained his links with Leominster and visits the town regularly.
