Biography.guide
Home › People › Geneticist › Peter Harper
Portrait of Peter Harper

Peter Harper

1939 – 2021

Neurogenetics researcher knighted for services to medicine

Don't just read it — keep itBiographies to ownE-book · Audio · Video From $7 →

About Peter Harper

Lived 1939 – 2021 (aged 81). Peter Harper was a British geneticist, university teacher and physician, known for Huntington's disease and Muscular dystrophy.

Sir Peter Stanley Harper (28 April 1939 – 23 January 2021 ) was a British physician and academic who was University Research Professor (Emeritus) in Human Genetics at Cardiff University. His work focused on researching neurogenetics and has resulted in discoveries concerning muscular dystrophies and Huntington's disease. He was knighted in 2004 for services to medicine.

Work Until 2004, Sir Peter was Professor of Medical Genetics at the University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff. He helped to develop the All Wales Medical Genomics Service (AWMGS) and has been a member of the UK Human Genetics Commission and Advisory Committee on Genetic testing. He was a member of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics 2004-2010. As a consultant to the History of Modern Biomedicine Research Group, he has contributed to several oral histories which address recent developments in clinical genetics in the UK.

Honours and awards He delivered the Lumleian Lecture to the Royal College of Physicians in 1995. He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 1995 Birthday Honours for services to Medical Genetics and was knighted in the 2004 Birthday Honours, for services to Medicine.

Books Practical Genetic Counselling, 1998 Hodder Arnold Myotonic Dystrophy: The Facts, 2002 Landmarks in Medical Genetics, 2004 OUP First Years of Human Chromosomes, 2006 Scion Press A Short History of Medical Genetics, 2008. OUP

Biography shop

Don’t just read it —
keep it.

Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.

  • E-book
  • Audio
  • Video
Browse the shop — from $7

Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free

Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Known for
Huntington's disease, Muscular dystrophy
Employers
Cardiff University
Awards
Commander of the Order of the British Empire; Knight Bachelor; Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales; Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of London; Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences; ESHG Award
Also known as
Sir Peter Harper, Peter Stanley Harper, Sir Peter Stanley Harper

People in Peter Harper's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Peter Harper's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Peter Harper?

neurogenetics researcher knighted for services to medicine (1939-2021)

When was Peter Harper born?

Peter Harper was born on 28 April 1939 in Barnstaple.

When did Peter Harper die?

Peter Harper died on 23 January 2021.

What was Peter Harper's occupation?

Peter Harper was a geneticist, university teacher and physician.

What was Peter Harper known for?

Peter Harper was known for Huntington's disease and Muscular dystrophy.

What nationality was Peter Harper?

Peter Harper was British.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Peter Harper

· Wikidata: Q655672

· DBpedia: Peter Harper (geneticist)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Peter Harper. https://biography.guide/peter-harper-geneticist/

MLA: "Peter Harper." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/peter-harper-geneticist/.

Chicago: "Peter Harper." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/peter-harper-geneticist/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Page generated 2026-09-27 05:03 UTC