I qualified from Oxford in 1988 and trained in rheumatology in London. I obtained my PhD for research into the molecular properties of autoantibodies that cause tissue damage in systemic  lupus erythematosus and the antiphospholipid syndrome and began to build up my own research group in 2000 when I was appointed as a Senior Lecturer at University College London. I was awarded the Michael Mason Prize for this research by the British Society of Rheumatology in 2004. I was promoted to a personal chair in rheumatology in 2008.

As well as continuing my basic science research I have developed clinical research programmes in autoimmune rheumatic disease and chronic pain. As a member of both the British Isles Lupus Assessment Group and the Systemic Lupus International Collaborative Clinics I am involved in large multi-centre research projects in the field of lupus.

My interest in chronic pain stems from the fact that I run a weekly rheumatology chronic pain clinic at University College London Hospital. I have forged a successful collaboration with researchers in primary care at Barts and the London and together we are working on studies of beliefs and expectations about chronic pain in different ethnic groups. We are also carrying out NIHR-funded research into development of a self-management programme for people with chronic pain in the community