Dr David Williams is an obstetric physician based at The Institute for Women’s Health, University College London Hospital (UCLH), UK. Originally trained as a nephrologist, he now leads a multi-disciplinary team specialising in the management of acute and chronic medical disorders in pregnancy. He is chairman of the NICE guideline on intrapartum care of women with medical disorders. Dr Williams is supported by the UCL/UCLH Biomedical Research Centre and his research group investigate the pathophysiology and management of gestational syndromes, including pre-eclampsia, acute fatty liver of pregnancy and disorders of placental development. He also leads a major project funded by the UK Medical Research Council to identify epigenetic marks associated with obesity.