Douglas Easton is Professor of Genetic Epidemiology at the University of Cambridge. His main research interests are in the genetics and epidemiology of cancer. He uses methods of genetic analysis in large-scale population and family studies to identify and characterise genetic variants that predispose to cancer, and to understand how they combine together with other factors to determine cancer risk. His work has characterised many of the important cancer predisposition genes including BRCA1, BRCA2, ATM and CHEK2. His studies have also led to the identification of hundreds of common cancer predisposition variants in the non-coding genome and the development of genetic risk scores. Much of his work been achieved through international collaboration, particularly through leadership of the Breast Cancer Association Consortium. He co-developed the BOADICEA risk prediction model now used worldwide to guide genetic counselling and cancer prevention strategies.

He has been awarded the inaugural Outstanding Investigator Award for Breast Cancer Research from the American Association of Cancer Research (2008), an Honorary Doctor of Medicine from the Karolinska Institute (2019) and the Basser Global Prize for BRCA1/2 research (2019).