Arri Coomarasamy is Director of the National Centre for Miscarriage research at the University of Birmingham, where he runs a large and highly influential programme of research, predominantly in the clinical trials arena. His two definitive, world leading clinical trials, PROMISE and TROPHY have put an end to years of non-evidence based practice, and are changing national and international guidelines. Effective research in global health has included the use of women and children’s group participation in promoting maternal and new-born health, and studies addressing emergency maternal transport to health facilities, the outputs of both have been included in WHO guidelines.