He subsequently moved to the John Innes Centre, Norwich in 1980 and has continued to work there ever since apart from two periods of sabbatical leave in the USA (Cornell University and The Scripps Research Institute). His research has focused on the molecular biology of RNA plant viruses and their use in bio- and nanotechnology. He has particularly focussed on the production of virus-like particles (VLPs) in plants. He is an honorary professor at the Universities of East Anglia and Nottingham and has co-ordinated several EU Framework consortia. In 2012 he was named “BBSRC Innovator of the year” for his work on plant-made pharmaceuticals and in 2015 delivered the Society of General Microbiology Colworth Prize Lecture.