His main interest is in pragmatic clinical trials, epidemiology, and quality improvement research. He currently leads three major research programmes in the areas of blood and blood product transfusion, recovery following critical illness, and sedation management in the ICU. He collaborates with a number of Edinburgh University groups in developing translational research programmes, notably Professor Chris Haslett (novel lung imaging) and Adriano Rossi (inflammation biology). He also has strong links with Professor Gordon Murray at the Centre for Population Health with whom he collaborates on a number of epidemiological projects and clinical trials in the area of critical illness.

Roles
Tim has key strategic roles with the National Institute of Healthcare Research (Chair of UK Critical Care Specialty Group), Chief Scientists Office (Critical Care Specialty Group lead and member of the Research Strategy Oversight Group), and through national professional societies (Chairman, Scottish Critical Care Trials Group; Member of UK Intensive Care Society Research Committee). He is a strong believer in collaborative national and international research and the importance of research networks.

His vision is to lead a world class multidisciplinary group undertaking bench to bedside research, always keeping patient-centred outcomes as the central focus of the group’s activities.