Heading a team of four his extensive knowledge of parasitic disease control is utilised working closely with the many other partners of the Global Alliance to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis and providing technical support and advice to the Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis, more specifically to those countries in receipt of funding support from the Centre via the Department for International Development (DFID). He is involved in other parasitic and vector borne disease control programmes and has a particular interest in working towards the integration of programmes.

As Editor-in-Chief of Filaria Journal he ensures that the best and most up-to-date research is published in a journal which provides open access to all its readers.

David has travelled extensively in Africa as well as the Middle East and Latin America. He has published over 300 papers in learned biological science journals, written over 20 reviews and made contributions to books as well as a textbook on trypanosomes and leishmania. Most recently he was Guest Editor of "Control of Human Parasitic Diseases".

He has acted as a consultant to organisations and groups including WHO, FAO, UNDP, the World Bank and UK government (DFID). He has served on national and international review committees - Wellcome Trust, Medical Research Council, National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health and the World Health Organization. He has also chaired WHO committees on trypanosomiasis, onchocerciasis, vector control and parasitic disease.