The remit of my research is to improve outcome for patients with acute leukaemia through genetics in UK treatment trials, by characterisation of existing and discovery of novel genetic changes. I have over 30 years’ experience in planning and leading research activities of national/international repute in the area of cytogenetics/genetics of haematological malignancies. I was responsible for the initiation of a database for the cytogenetics of acute leukaemia in 1988, when the importance of chromosomal abnormalities in risk stratification for treatment was becoming evident. This has now developed into a large-scale collection of cytogenetic and genetic data, containing information on more than 28,000 UK patients, which is renowned to be one of the best leukaemia genetics research resources in the world. Some of the most recent analyses from these data have identified new cytogenetic-based risk categories in childhood and adult acute leukaemia, which have resulted in changes in clinical practice.