| Citation | Emeritus Professor, NHLI Division, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London
Williams is distinguished for his work on inflammation. Early research focused upon mechanisms of vasodilation and vascular permeability changes, clarified the role of complement and neutrophils, and culminated in his influential 'two mediator hypothesis'. Williams first reported the potent vasodilator activity of calcitronin gene-related peptide, strongly influencing the field of neurogenic inflammation, but his most significant contribution was the discovery of the novel chemokine, Eotaxin, which recruits eosinophils to inflammatory sites and plays a role in asthma and other diseases. Williams has also pioneered the use of small molecule antagonists of Eotaxin, providing a strong rationale for industry-led anti- allergic programmes.
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