Professor Martin Warren is a research scientist with a strong background interest in a group of molecules called the pigments of life. These molecules include haem, which give blood its red colour, chlorophyll, which gives grass its colour, and vitamin B12, the antipernicious anaemia factor. Of all these molecules vitamin B12 is the most fascinating. Interestingly, vitamin B12 is only made by certain bacteria and a significant part of the Warren research laboratory is dedicated to understanding how the molecule is made and how it works it way into the foodchain and how the vitamin can be made more bioavailable.