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| David Grimwade |
| Hematologist |
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My current position is Senior Lecturer (Hon. Consultant) in the Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Guy's King's and St. Thomas' School of Medicine and Honorary Consultant in Haematology at University College London, Hospitals. I was one of the first males to enter Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford (in an official capacity) as an undergraduate and then went to St. Mary's Hospital Medical School, London. After general medical training in Oxford, my specialist training in Haematology involved The Royal Marsden, Sutton, University College London and Whipps Cross Hospitals. I joined the research group of Prof Ellen Solomon at Imperial Cancer Research Fund, London and subsequently became an LRF Bennett Senior Research Fellow at GKT School of Medicine, focusing on molecular characterization of acute promyelocytic leukaemia. My other research interests include identification of prognostic factors in AML and the development of approaches for minimal residual disease detection.
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Why did you go into hematology?
The influences of Barbara Bain's pathology course as a medical student at St. Mary's and Charlie Craddock (an evangelist for hematology) whilst working as a house physician at Ealing Hospital steered me towards a career in Haematology.
Who or what has most inspired you in your work?
My inspiration has always been a desire to find out how things work and why they go wrong - unfortunately this enthusiasm lapses somewhat when things go wrong outside the lab.
Which scientific papers have made a great impression on you?
My research interests have been particularly influenced by John Dick's work, considering the implications of the concept of "leukaemic stem cells" (Bonnet & Dick, Nat Med 1997; 3: 730-7) to the pathogenesis of acute promyelocytic leukaemia.
What is the most important lesson you've learnt in your professional life?
Cooperation and collaboration are considerably more constructive that confrontation.
What do you consider to be your greatest achievement?
In collaboration with Frances Hildreth, the generation of Jemima and Imogen.
What are the best and worst aspects of your job?
Best: Having the opportunity to work with the talented scientists in our lab and the collaborations that have yielded nice people to share dinner with all over the world.
Worst: Introduction of the congestion charge in London, forcing me to travel on Southwest Trains everyday.
When or where are you happiest?
Enjoying a good pudding wine.
What do you do to relax?
Avoid watching BBC "Question Time".
What book are you reading at the moment?
I have never been a great reader - "The Director's Cut", by Nicholas Royle is top of my shortlist.
What's your most evocative piece of music?
Classical: "Dido's Lament" from Dido & Aeneas, Purcell
Contempory: Jocelyn Pook, "Flood"; Mariza, "Fado Em Mim"; Khaled, "Sahra"
What's your favorite film?
Equal favourites: "Babette's Feast" and "The Draughtsman's Contract".
What are your hobbies?
Cooking, wine, traipsing round ancient remains, insects and travel.
What car do you drive?
Toyota Rav 4.
What are your unfulfilled ambitions?
To have a conservatory full of carnivorous plants and phasmids.
How would you like to be remembered?
As someone who carried on the family tradition of saying what they thought (and not worrying unduly about the consequences) and making a reasonable decision about what wine to order.
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