He holds a PhD in Physiology and Pharmacology and has published over 60 research papers. In 2003 he obtained an MBA from the University of Adelaide. From 1987 to 1995, he was a Research Fellow at the John Curtin School of Medical Research in Canberra. He also worked as a toxicologist with the TGA in 1995/6 before moving to Adelaide in 1997. David has been the national secretary of the International Society for Heart Research and is a member of the NHMRC grant review panel (Pharmacology). David was the CEO and co-founder of Rhinopharma Ltd., now re-listed as Verona Pharmaceuticals on the AIM exchange in London.