Could you tell us something about your background and what attracted you to a career in medicine and medical science?
I wanted to work with children from the age of about five. When I was about 14, I decided to do this through medicine. I started trying to write for publication as a medical student. I went into paediatrics as soon as possible after qualifying and came to the Hammersmith to work in neonatal neurology because it had such a good reputation. I became involved in research straight away. The environment was very conducive and there were plenty of potential projects. I went into research as the main part of my work after having my first child. Whilst it was more unsettling to have to apply for funding every few years it allowed me to work flexibly in a challenging area.

Were there any problems you had to overcome in getting going?
Obtaining funding was the only obstacle; fortunately I was lucky on my second attempt.

Please tell us briefly about your career to date?
I trained in paediatrics with an interest in neonatal neurology. I started my research by looking at various ways of assessing the neurologically abnormal neonate, one of which was magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The Hammersmith were really the only unit performing MRI in the neonate at that time. Professor Graeme Bydder became my mentor and was 100% supportive through four pregnancies. After a couple of years my next lot of funding was for MR research and I stopped using the other techniques although kept up with developments. I now work with a multidisciplinary team of clinicians and scientists with MRI of the neonatal brain as our core. After eight years in MR research I became a fellow of the Royal College of Radiologists (without examination).

You pathway has been rather unusual – why was that and what challenges did you have to overcome? What lessons can we learn from this?
My pathway has been unusual because I have crossed medical disciplines. I have also been doing clinical research as the sole part of my job. I am also working in a field that is new and has developed around the research. There are still relatively few centres that perform neonatal MRI although it is becoming more widely used as a clinical technique

What are the most enjoyable aspects of your life and work and which the most challenging?
I love the flexibility of doing research. I enjoy working with a wide range of people from different disciplines and I love working with babies. The most challenging aspect is to get grants and to be recognised as a serious clinical researcher despite perhaps working in a slightly unorthodox manner. It is also difficult to avoid getting entangled with meetings and committees which take you away from what you would like to be doing and what you have trained to do.

Can you describe in simple terms the research work you’re currently undertaking?
At the present time, I remain at the Hammersmith and am using MRI to study the developing brain in infants born prematurely and in infants who have suffered perinatal brain injury. Over the last few years we have been using computerised programmes to quantify different MR parameters in different brain structures. I have not moved from this site because I don’t believe that the facilities and expertise we have here can be found anywhere else in UK. Its facilities are unparalleled.

What seem to you to be the pros and cons of combining academic study with medical practice for you so far?
I have done very little NHS work in the past ten years although I now work two sessions a week for the Trust. The nature of my research means that I remain clinically active at all times which satisfies my need for patient contact.

If someone still at medical school asked you about life and work as a clinical academic or a medical science researcher what would you say?
Fantastic - particularly if you want to have kids. Do not be put off if you find yourself on a slightly unorthodox path. Never put up with something you don’t enjoy because you think that it will get you where you want to be. Always enjoy the job in hand as that ultimate goal may not be all its cracked up to be.