Allan served as the Institute’s Director from 2000 to 2010. During his ten-year tenure he shifted the Institute’s scientific programmes from a sequence production and informatics to a more genetically and biologically focused academic genome centre. He emphasised investment in young scientists, recruiting a cadre of young PIs, established international PhD programs for both basic and clinically trained candidates.

Professor Bradley led a research group through his tenure as Institute Director and continues to do so as a Senior Group Leader. Allan’s laboratory environment emphasises intellectual rigour but with a flair for innovation and creativity. His laboratory’s research is strongly focused on using genetics to discover genes involved in various biological systems, using somatic mutagenesis in mice to discover cancer genes and genetic screens in ES cells in culture. He is considers himself to be an “educator”, inspiring and mentoring graduate students and fellows. His laboratory is an active and successful training environment for postdoctoral and clinical fellows. Professor Bradley places special emphasis in mentoring and preparing young scientists for independent academic positions both in the UK and globally. Laboratory alumni include 22 independent PIs in 6 countries of whom 10 are full professors, or equivalent.