He leads a programme of cross-disciplinary research focused on the identification and analysis of ethical problems presented by advances in genomics, data science, and global health. He has special interests in ethical questions relating to: collective action, individual responsibility, and the common good in infectious disease response, research, and preparedness; research in global health emergencies; global health justice; conceptions of consent, privacy and confidentiality in data-driven health systems; clinical, research, and public health uses of genomics and genetics; and the roles of commercial and industry partnerships in healthcare innovation. Michael Parker's research is characterised by a commitment to the opportunities and challenges afforded by embedding ethics research into large scale biomedical science and healthcare innovations. As such, it often necessarily takes the form of methodological innovation across ethics and the humanities, and involves collaborative partnerships with scientists. Some examples include: the Malaria Genomics Epidemiology Network, the Wellcome Africa and Asia Programmes, the Oxford Big Data Institute, UK Biobank, and the 100,000 Genomes Project.