Prof. Watson completed his degree in Pharmacology at the University of Leeds, 1st Class in 1980. He completed his PhD in Neurochemical Pharmacology Unit, University of Cambridge in 1983. He completed his Post–doctoral qualification in 1985 at Burroughs Wellcome, North Carolina, USA.

His previous positions have included Departmental Demonstrator Royal Society, University Research Fellow, British Heart Foundation Senior Research Fellow all in Department of Pharmacology at the University of Oxford.

His current position is British Heart Foundation Professor, Cardiovascular Sciences and Cellular Pharmacology at the University of Birmingham.

He has received recognition as a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences (2002); Nature/NESTA mid-career award for creative mentoring in science (2006); ISTH Investigator Recognition Award for Contributions to Haemostasis (2007)

Prof. Watson has published over 220 primary research papers including over 40 in journals with an impact factor of 10 or more in the last ten years. I have an H-index of 62. His research focus is the study of surface receptors and their signalling pathways in platelets and megakaryocytes, and the study of patients with platelet bleeding disorders.

He has been Senior Editor for Trends Pharmacological Sciences (2001); Platelets (2005); International Review of Thrombosis (2007); Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis (2007); Thrombosis and Haemostasis (2008).

He has been a member of IUPHAR Nomenclature Committee (1994-04); British Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis (1994-07); International Society for Thrombosis and Haemostasis SSC on Platelet Physiology (1999–10)

Prof. Watson established and organized the first UK Platelet Group meeting in 1998; the meeting is held an annual basis and attracts between 80–150 scientists. He organises a UK Platelet Summer School on a 3 year cycle. He proposed and chaired the first Gordon Conference on the Cell Biology of Megakaryocytes and Platelets (2005). The 5th meeting will be held next year.