Gavin Spickett trained in Oxford and carried out research for his DPhil at the MRC Cellular Immunology Unit. He then completed his medical training in Ipswich before moving to the Clinical Research Centre, working with Dr. David Webster on primary immunodeficiency diseases. He completed his senior registrar training in Oxford with professor Helen Chapel before taking up his present post in Newcastle, where he has led the clinical immunology and allergy service and the regional immunology laboratory for 20 years.