Untitled Document

Professor of Nutritional Biochemistry, University College London

Division of Biosciences, Darwin Building, University College London, Gower Street. London WC1E 6BT
Director of studies for Phase 1 MBBS and Sub-Dean (Education) UCL Medical School

email in UCL:
private email :

Click here for a podcast of my inaugural lecture on February 25th 2010, introduced by Prof Mary Collins, Dean of Life Sciences. As the sound for each slide finishes, click to go to the next slide.

The photograph on the left was taken by Jonathan Reiner, a UCL medical student, as part of a student selected component in which he photographed and interviewed a number of senior members of UCL staff and mounted an exhibition of portraits and mini-biographies in summer 2008.

My research activities have been in the field of tryptophan, niacin and vitamin B6 nutrition and metabolism

The nutritional equivalence of dietary tryptophan and preformed niacin; the synthesis of NAD from tryptophan, and the ways in which disturbance of tryptophan metabolism may lead to the development of pellagra, despite an apparently adequate intake of tryptophan and preformed niacin;
The effects of steroid hormones on tryptophan metabolism and vitamin B6 nutritional status;
The role of vitamin B6 in modulating steroid hormone action.

See the links on the left for a list of my books and reviews, and my full cv.

Teaching

I consider that teaching nutrition and metabolism at University College London is my main occupation. I have a major commitment to the basic science course for Medical students, and I also teach on courses for Biochemistry and other students.

Because of my interest in teaching the scientific basis of medicine, and hopefully inculcating in my students the attitudes and patterns of thought that will lead to them becoming practitioners of evidence based medicine, I am an active member of HealthWatch, a non-profit organisation that is dedicated to promoting the rigorous testing of both conventional and unconventional therapies and treatments, so enhancing informed choice through reliable information.

Computers in teaching

I have been involved in developing computer software for teaching use for the last 35 years, beginning with a Teletype terminal connected via the Hospital switchboard to a distant mainframe, then graduating via the Acorn BBC micro to modern PCs. During this time we have progressed from the days when I used to bring my own computer in from home for the students to use, through a set of 8088 PCs that were kept in cupboards under the benches in the teaching laboratory, and had to be lifted out and set up each week, to the present luxury of having my software available for teaching on networked PCs campus-wide.

See the buttons on the left for more information about my programs.

Contrary to popular belief, I do find some time for leisure activities, to indulge my interests in:

Travel - scientific meetings are always a good excuse to travel if I cannot justify a holiday.

Food and wine - perhaps I can call it nutrition research when I eat at a good restaurant. I also enjoy cooking, which perhaps I can call practical nutrition - although I must admit that I am more artistic than scientific in the kitchen.

Photography - After all the years of having a darkrom in the loft or in a spare room, or one corner of my study (using the bath to wash prints and carrying trays of developer between rooms), we now have a "spare" bathroom that I could use as a darkroom with running water - but I no longer need or want one. I have been converted to digital photography. Apart from the chance to manipulate (or fake) photographs, there is no clearing up at the end of a session, and no need to carry on because "there is still life in the developer and it would be a shame to waste it". It is still odd to plan a trip without making sure I have bought film. Click here to see an eclectic collection of my photographs - some straight, some very manipulated, some digital originals, some scanned from slides or even monochrome negatives.

Classical music and theatre - one of the great benefits of living near London is the rich variety of theatres and concert halls available. We sometimes go to small experimental theatre - but as a scientist I know that it is pointless to continue with an unsuccessful experiment, and we leave in the interval if the experiment is a failure. The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is an excellent opportunity for theatre, although 3 - 4 shows a day for 10 days (as in summer 2009) can be a little exhausting.

Gardening - we live in Amersham, and are fortunate to have quite a large garden, which always needs attention of some kind. It has been designed so that it is interesting when viewed from ground level, and is especially tempting when viewed from my study window. The 19 100-yeal old lime trees on two sides provide a splendid screen, and an almost endless supply of leaf litter in autumn. Our tropical fish indoors and koi carp, etc in the garden pond provide a splendid way of wasting time - we can sit and watch them, and the varied birdlife of the garden, for hours. Click here for the garden birdlist.

Of course, we must not forget Pushkin, the cat that adopted us.

Natural history and nature conservation. I am an honorary vice-president of the Selborne Society , which owns and manages Perivale Wood Local Nature Reserve, a 27 acre ancient woodland in west London, which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest. There are more of my photographs (this time serious) on the Selborne Society website.