Martin is Professor of Health and Social Care Policy in the Department of Health Policy, and Professorial Research Fellow in CPEC. He was Director of the NIHR School for Social Care Research between 2009 and 2024, and has been Programme Director of the NIHR Research Programme for Social Care since 2023.

His current research emphases are primarily dementia, child and adult mental health, social care (long-term care) and autism. Much of his work has an economic focus, and in all of it he explores and aims to tease out policy and practice implications. He has published widely in these fields. His work has had numerous impacts on policy and practice, both in the UK and internationally.

Martin was awarded a CBE in 2022.