I trained at St Thomas' Hospital Medical School, University of London, and graduated in 1992. After studying haematology in the North London training programme I joined the Haemostasis Research Group at the Medical Research Council in London. My primary area of research involved the development of models of tissue factor-initiated coagulation which formed the basis of my doctoral thesis. I am currently Senior Lecturer and Honorary Consultant in Haemostasis at the Royal Free and University College Medical School in London. My research interests include the genetic basis of inherited disorders of coagulation, the diagnosis and management of platelet disorders and the clinical management of the rarer factor deficiencies.

You might think after reading this that I have never set a professional foot outside of London. That is not true. I once did a surgical house job in Chertsey which is at least a quarter mile outside the M25

Why did you go into hematology?

Because it offers the perfect blend of clinical, laboratory and academic work.

Who or what has most inspired you in your work?

Which scientific papers have made a great impression on you?

Thomas KR, Folger, K.R., Capecchi, M.R. High frequency targeting of genes to specific sites in the mammalian genome. Cell. 1986;44:419-28.

Smithies O, Gregg, R. G., Boggs, S. S., Doralewski, M. A., Kucherlapati, R. S. Insertion of DNA sequences into the human chromosomal beta-globin locus by homologous recombination. Nature. 1985;317:230-4.

What is the most important lesson you've learnt in your professional life?

The same thing that my father taught me when I was learning which end of the bat to hold: if you can't read the googly, best not try to hit it for six. At work I translate this into proceeding cautiously when approaching the unknown. He later said to me that after one learns to pick the googly it is a good ball to smack the leather off. I have not yet translated this part of the lesson to my professional life.

What do you consider to be your greatest achievement?

I don't think my professional achievements are worthy of mention yet. Ask me again in 10 years. Better make that 20 years, no sense in putting undue pressure on myself.

What are the best and worst aspects of your job?

The best is being afforded time to do what I enjoy (e.g. formulating an idea and taking it into the lab). The worst is finding that after all that effort the experiments still don't work (sometimes).

When or where are you happiest?

Where - on the cricket pitch, when - while I'm batting.

What do you do to relax?

I sit in the pavilion at the Oval with my son watching Surrey. This season has not been very relaxing.

What book are you reading at the moment?

Lords of the Bow. It's about Genghis Khan, a man after my own heart. He spent a lot of time investigating the bleeding time in humans.

What's your most evocative piece of music?

What's your favorite film?

Lord of the Rings. On this occasion the Nobel Assembly have missed their chance. In literature I mean.

What are your hobbies?

Well I'm not going to say cricket because it is far more than a mere hobby. I do like cycling, reading and playing chess.

What car do you drive?

I don't have a car. I do have a Honda CBF 600 in my drive and a Harley Davidson Fatboy in my dreams.

What are your unfulfilled ambitions?

Open the batting for Sri Lanka in a test match at Lords'. I inherited this ambition, completely intact, from my father and have now passed it, similarly untouched, to my son. Actually my father did get a little closer than I, but sadly for him Sri Lanka only started playing tests after his back went.

How would you like to be remembered?

As I have not felt in any danger of needing an epitaph I haven't given this much thought. Maybe the next time I'm riding my Harley, I mean my Honda.

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