David’s early research focused on the regulation of intracellular sodium in cardiac muscle and the effects on contraction and then investigated the control of intracellular calcium concentration and its role in the production of arrhythmias. He has worked extensively on the factors that regulate the calcium content of the sarcoplasmic reticulum and how this is altered in disease.  His most recent work has been concerned with the regulation of diastolic calcium concentration.

He has served as Editor-in-Chief of The Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology and The Journal of Physiology. He has also served on grants panels for The British Heart Foundation, MRC and Wellcome Trust.  He was a member of panels for RAE 2001 & 2008 as well as REF2014.