Peter (seen in the main picture on the right, alongside his research colleagues and Grazina Berry, AAT's CEO) leads the Experimental Haematology department at the Leeds Institute of Cancer and Pathology and the Translational Haematology Research Group. He is also an Honorary Consultant Haematologist at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

 The Chair of the AAT Board, Sven Moos, warmly welcomes Pete:

I and my fellow Trustees are delighted to welcome Professor Peter Hillmen to the AAT board of trustees. Peter brings to the board a further thematic dimension of our aplastic anaemia focus with his work on PNH (paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria) as well as a broadening of our regional reach. Leeds University is a key UK research and treatment centre and this closer link will help us to better target the Trust’s support. Peter’s vast experience, knowledge and excellent judgment will be a tremendously valuable addition to our board. We are fortunate indeed to have Peter join us as Trustee.

Professor Hillmen qualified in Medicine at Leeds Medical School in 1985 and completed his general medical training in Leeds in 1988. He was a Haematology Registrar in Hammersmith Hospital, London between 1989 and 1990 before completing three years as a Wellcome Training Fellow based at the Royal Postgraduate Medical School (1991 to 1993) completing a PhD working on PNH under the supervision of Professor Lucio Luzzatto. He then moved back to Leeds as a Senior Registrar in Haematology, Yorkshire (1994 to 1996). He was appointed as a Consultant Haematologist Mid-Yorkshire Trust and Leeds General Infirmary in 1996 before moving to Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust in 2004. He was appointed as Professor of Experimental Haematology, University of Leeds in 2013.

 Professor Hillmen has research interests in both paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PNH) and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). Since 1990 he has continued to research into PNH that eventually led to the development of anti-complement therapy for PNH. He was the lead on the trials of Eculizumab, the drug used in treating PNH patients, and now leads the National PNH Service based in Leeds and King's. The National PNH service looks after over 300 patients with PNH and this provides a unique resource for continued research into the pathophysiology and therapy of the disease.

The links of aplastic anaemia and PNH are well documented, with strong evidence to indicate that all patients with PNH  have an underlying bone marrow failure, usually aplastic anaemia.