Graham went to medical school in Cambridge and Oxford. He then trained in Respiratory and General Medicine in Newcastle, Nottingham and Aberdeen. He undertook two periods of research during this training and has an MD in asthma epidemiology a PhD in neonatal immunology. In 2000 he was appointed as a Consultant in Respiratory and General Medicine in Aberdeen, he has developed clinical sub-speciality interests in airways disease (asthma, COPD, cystic fibrosis and bronchiectasis). In 2005 he accepted a post as a Clinical Senior Lecturer at the University of Aberdeen, and in 2008 he was promoted to Professor of Respiratory Medicine. He is an Honorary Consultant in Respiratory Medicine at Aintree University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Research
Graham has established research interest in the early life influences on the life course of respiratory disease. He has identified associations between childhood asthma and maternal diet during pregnancy, fetal growth patterns and parental occupation. Translational aspects of this work have identified associations between maternal exposures during pregnancy and cord blood immune responses and neonatal airway epithelial cell responses.
In conjunction with Novabiotics Graham has been investigating the possibility of repurposing cysteamine for use in cystic fibrosis during acute exacerbations and as chronic maintenance therapy.
Most recently he has been Co-Chief investigator for the NIHR-HTA funded trial of low dose theophylline in COPD (TWICS) and he is Co-Chief investigator for the NIHR-HTA funded trial of Bisoprolol in COPD (BICS).
Graham is expert advisor to Ministry of Defence Research Ethics Committee.