LabMed Northern Ireland Regional Scientific Meeting 

This one-day conference brings together laboratory medicine professionals, clinical scientists, and pathologists from across Northern Ireland and beyond for an engaging dive into the future of diagnostics, research, and healthcare practice.

With sessions chaired by Kathryn Ryan and Amy Wotherspoon, the agenda spans pressing topics like antibiotic resistance, AI in healthcare, point-of-care innovations, and cardiac biomarkers. Attendees will also explore academic publishing, lipid testing standards, and insights from Scottish clinical biochemistry practice. A highlight includes trainee presentations with a prize awarded to the top abstract.

Why attend?

• Hear from leading experts across microbiology, haematology, biochemistry, and clinical informatics

• Network with peers over coffee, lunch, and lively discussions

• Get inspired by cutting-edge research and practical clinical updates

• Celebrate rising talent through trainee-led presentations

Who should attend? Clinical scientists, chemical pathologists, trainees, medical professionals, and anyone passionate about laboratory medicine and its impact on patient care.

Agenda

9.00am Registration and refreshments 

Session 1 - Chair: Kathryn Ryan (LabMed NI Chair; Consultant Chemical Pathologist, SEHSCT) 

9.30  Welcome from LabMed NI Chair. Kathryn Ryan 

9.35  Intracellular survival of Enterobacter species in disguise: what can we learn from silent infections, Miguel Valvano (Professor of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, QUB)

10.05  What’s new in point of care testing? Jenny Hamilton (Consultant Clinical Scientist, SHSCT) 

10.35  Epigenetics in myeloproliferative neoplasia, Graeme Greenfield (Academic Clinical Lecturer in Haematology, QUB) 

11.05 Coffee and networking 

11.30 Artificial intelligence in healthcare: opportunities and pitfalls, Gareth Lewis (Consultant Physician, NHSCT) 

12.00 Cardiac biomarkers: an update, Paul Collinson (Professor of Cardiovascular Biomarkers, St George’s University of London) 

12.30 Q+A:  All you wanted to know about troponin but where afraid to ask, Paul Collinson (Professor of Cardiovascular Biomarkers, St George’s University of London)

12.45 Lunch 

Session 2 - Chair: Dr Amy Wotherspoon (Clinical Scientist, BHSCT) 

1.30  How to get published. Phillip Monaghan (Consultant Clinical Scientist, The Christie Pathology Partnership, Manchester; co-Editor-in-Chief of The Annals of Clinical Biochemistry) 

2.00  Standardising lipid testing and reporting, Julia Kenkre (Consultant Chemical Pathologist, Imperial College London) 

2.30 Clinical biochemistry in Scotland: lessons for Northern Ireland and beyond? Giles Aldworth (Consultant Chemical Pathologist, WHSCT)

3.00 Coffee and networking 

3.30  Trainee presentations, three abstracts submitted by trainees will be presented with a prize being awarded to the best

4.30 Closing remarks, Kathryn Ryan 

If the event becomes over-subscribed, priority will be given to members of the NI region.

This meeting has been organised by LabMed and sponsored through funding by Daiichi Sankyo UK Ltd. Daiichi Sankyo UK Ltd has had no involvement in the organisation of this meeting.