His early research was electrophysiological with an interest in neurotransmitter receptor biology. He became interested in calcium signaling and optical techniques in biology, and then in the influence of cell metabolism on excitability, leading to a broader fascination with mitochondrial biology. This evolved into study of the dialogue between cell signalling pathways and mitochondria, in the roles of mitochondria in disease and ultimately in the question of whether mitochondrial pathways represent viable therapeutic targets in a variety of disease states.