Jim Metcalfe has been Professor of Mammalian Cell Biochemistry in the Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, since 1996 and was Sir William Dunn Reader in Biochemistry in the same department from 1975. From 2001 to 2006 he was Deputy Head of Department and Director of Research and Development and was seconded part-time to the Cancer Research Campaign as Chairman of the Scientific Committee from 1995 to 2000. He is currently chairman of the scientific advisory committee for the EMF Biological Research Trust which has the remit of evaluating any biological effects of power-line frequency electromagnetic fields that may affect human health. His current research interests are in laboratory and translational clinical research studies on the role of cytokines, particularly the transforming growth factor beta family, in the aetiology of metastatic tumours and coronary artery disease.