After completing his PhD at the University of Aston, Dr. Heales worked as a post-doctoral research fellow at the UCL Institute of Child Health. He progressed to principle clinical scientist at the Neurometabolic Unit at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (NHNN) in 1995 and was made consultant clinical scientist and deputy director of the department of clinical biochemistry in 2002. His research interests include oxidative stress pathways such as nitric oxide and glutathione signaling. As well as diagnostic work for metabolic disorders, Dr. Heales is currently involved in many research projects, including one with the AADC Research trust, looking at dopamine metabolism. He was made professor of clinical chemistry earlier this year.