Deborah Lambert

Ms Deborah Lambert completed a MSc in Epidemiology and Biostatistics in 1994 and an MSc in Genetic Counselling in 1996, both at McGill University in Canada. She is a Registered Genetic Counsellor with the European Board of Medical Genetics.

Ms Lambert has worked as the Principal Genetic Counsellor at the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin since 2022. She previously worked as a genetic counsellor at the McGill University Health Centre and Children’s Health Ireland and as an information scientist and Orphanet Ireland project manager in Ireland’s National Rare Diseases Office. She has recently completed employment as a research genetic counsellor at UCD on mapping best practice for genetic counselling and testing in Ireland.

Ms Lambert has a particular interest in population screening for genetic conditions. Her master’s thesis evaluated the newborn screening programme for Phenylketonuria (PKU) in the province of Quebec. She has evaluated outcomes in regional screening programmes for haemoglobinopathies and has worked as a consultant to examine community needs for establishment of population screening in an isolated population. As a genetic counsellor, she works with people receiving results from antenatal, newborn, adolescent and adult screening programmes.

Ms Lambert has been active in professional genetic societies at both an Irish and European level to promote the profession of genetic counselling. She has over 35 peer-reviewed scientific publications and has presented her research in the areas of rare genetic diseases, the population basis of rare diseases and health services program evaluation at national and international conferences. She has also co-produced websites, videos, and research reports about rare genetic diseases for the public.