Prof Martin Dennis is a consultant stroke physician who looks after patients in the stroke unit and clinic. He also runs a programme of research aiming to help detect, prevent and treat the complications of stroke more effectively.

He has completed large international studies to establish the best ways of feeding patients after a stroke and also how to reduce their risk of developing blood clots in their legs. The CLOTS trial 3 showed that intermittent pneumatic compression devices (see picture) applied to patients' legs reduced their risk of DVT and improved their chances of survival.