LabMedUK26

Funmi Akinlade

Funmi Akinlade is a Consultant clinical scientist in Biochemistry at Barking, Havering, and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust in London. In addition to her consultant role, she is the Pathology clinical lead for Clinical Governance and Audit. Her previous roles include Joint trust lead healthcare scientist and Chair of the National Quality Assurance Advisory Panel (NQAAP) in Chemical Pathology.

Funmi has a strong interest in HbA1c and played a key role in developing local guidance to support its interpretation and clinical use.

She also has a longstanding interest in clinical audit and governance. Funmi has been a longstanding member of the Thames Audit Committee for many years and has undertaken several audits, most recently leading a national audit on laboratory testing in diabetes.

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Daven Amin

Daven Amin completed the Fellowship of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine in 2020 and was appointed as a Consultant in Emergency Medicine at Frimley Health NHS Trust having trained in the Oxford School of Emergency Medicine.

He is the Deputy chief of service for Emergency Medicine at Wexham Park Hospital having strategic, performance and finance responsibilities.
Since 2021 Daven is also the Deputy chief information officer for Emergency Medicine leading the design and implementation of the electronic health record and integrating new technologies to improve digital communication with patients and enhance clinical workflows.

Daven also has an interest in medicine in remote and austere environments. He is an Expedition doctor providing care and ensuring peak performance at high altitude and extremes of temperature and geographically remote areas.

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Parizad Avari

Parizad Avari is a Consultant diabetologist at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and Honorary clinical lecturer at Imperial College London.

She completed her PhD evaluating a smartphone based real-time personalised decision support system for people with type 1 diabetes at Imperial College London in 2021. Her specialist interest lies within the field of diabetes, with a focus on use of innovative technologies for diabetes prevention and management in individuals at highest risk, including young adults, people in hospital, or those with renal impairment.

She is currently funded by the Global Health Research Unit to support digital interventions in the prevention of type 2 diabetes in South Asia.

She co-leads the Diabetes theme for improving care for people on dialysis and pre-renal transplantation across North West London funded by NHS England. She is the NIHR Regional research delivery network specialty lead for diabetes, endocrinology and metabolism for North London, and is a committee member of the Joint British Diabetes Societies for Inpatient Care (JBDS-IP) group and Diabetes UK Research Steering Group (for Acute Care).

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Nick Barnes

No bio provided

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Sophie Barnes

Sophie is a Consultant clinical scientist in Clinical Biochemistry at North West London Pathology.

Although she covers all areas of Clinical Biochemistry, Sophie specialises in aldosterone and renin analysis and interpretation.

She was appointed as Director of the Supra-Regional Assay Service (SAS) for renin and aldosterone in 2008 and chairs the SAS Endocrinology SubGroup.

More recently, she has been part of the Renin and Aldosterone Standardisation and Harmonisation group and had the pleasure of leading the clinical workstream.

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Marianne Barr

Marianne Barr is a Clinical biochemist at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) in Glasgow, with a specialist interest in inherited metabolic disease.

Marianne studied Pharmacology at the University of Glasgow before completing a PhD investigating how genetic variation influences human hypertension.

In 2021, Marianne became the lead scientist responsible for the management of the lysosomal storage disorder diagnostic service at the QEUH and has played a key role in its expansion and improvement.

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Alana Burns

Alana Burns is a Principal clinical scientist at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, specialising in metabolic medicine with expertise in lysosomal storage disorders, aminoacidopathies, and porphyrias. As a state-registered HCPC scientist, she ensures the clinical accuracy of biochemistry results in one of the UK largest hospital laboratories and supports the safe management of critical findings.

Alana holds a BSc (Hons) in Biomedical Science and a PhD in Cancer Biology from the University of Dundee, completed her Scientist Training Programme in 2018, and is working towards Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists. She is also an Honorary lecturer at the University of Strathclyde.

Alana has led the development of advanced assays, delivered international training in collaboration with Alexion, and pioneered integrated diagnostic packs for porphyria. Her dedication extends to active roles in national scientific committees, quality assurance, and mentoring, and she is recognised for her research contributions through multiple peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations 

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Rachel Carling

Rachel Carling graduated with a first class honours degree in Chemistry from Manchester University in 1996. She then gained a PhD in Analytical Chemistry before moving to Leeds and training as a Clinical biochemist. She chose to specialise in metabolic biochemistry because of her interest in analytical techniques and became one of eight Higher specialist trainees in Metabolic Biochemistry, obtaining FRCPath in 2007.

Rachel is now a Consultant clinical scientist at Synnovis, Guy’s & St Thomas’ Hospital where she is Director of South East Thames Regional Newborn Screening Laboratory, Scientific Head of Service and Clinical lead for Biochemical Sciences. She is also Chair of the UK Metabolic Biochemistry Network.

Her main area of interest is inherited metabolic disease with a particular focus on the application of tandem mass spectrometry to the measurement of small molecules. She is passionate about science, an advocate of A3 thinking and committed to service improvement.

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Bernie Croal

Consultant chemical pathologist, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, President, RCPath

Bernie graduated in Honours Physiology (1989) and Medicine (1992) from Glasgow University and went on to train in General Medicine (FRCP 1998) and Clinical Biochemistry (FRCPath 1999). He moved to Aberdeen to take up an academic Senior Lecturer post in Health Services Research, obtaining an MSc (2000) and MD (2003) degree in Public Health and Health Services Research.

Over the last 15 years he has filled many roles at RCPath including Chairs of Scottish Council, the Clinical Biochemistry SAC, the Informatics Committee, the National Laboratory Medicine Catalogue and the Quality Assurance Management Group. He was RCPath Vice-President (2011-14) and has been a member of Council/Exec for 15 years, as well as a member of both ACB, ACP and IBMS Councils. He was President of The Association for Laboratory Medicine from 2021-2023. He is RCPath President from 2023-26.

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Sarah Davies

Principal/HSST clinical scientist & EQA scheme manager, Birmingham Quality (University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust)

Sarah Davies is a Principal/HSST clinical scientist & EQA scheme manager at Birmingham Quality. She’s a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists working towards a DClinSci. She’s an honorary lecturer at the University of Manchester, with active interests in publication/peer review (ORCHID ID: 0000-0003-1689-7134).

Between 2021–2025, Sarah developed significant expertise in adrenal biochemistry (particularly Primary aldosteronism) and cardiovascular disease (particularly lipids and high-sensitivity cardiac troponin) through membership of the Adrenal multidisciplinary team, participating in lipid service improvements and working on the MACROS2 trial at University Hospitals Liverpool Group. This created a drive to apply clinical insights for quality improvements, notably through the Renin and Aldosterone Standardisation and Harmonisation (RASH-UK) group.

In 2025, Sarah moved into External Quality Assessment where she combines her analytical/clinical insights in analytical performance monitoring activities. She is developing experience in traceability through appointment to the JCTLM database Review Team for Non-Peptide Hormones and Corresponding Membership of the IFCC Committee on Traceability in Laboratory Medicine. Sarah was appointed as joint Clinical lead for Guideline Adjudication (Royal College of Pathologists). These roles emphasise commitment to reducing unwarranted analytical variability to allow consistent clinical decision making with maximal patient benefit.

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Kevin Deans

Kevin Deans has been Consultant chemical pathologist in the Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, and Honorary senior lecturer in the University of Aberdeen, since 2010.

He was awarded BSc (Hons) in Medical Biochemistry, MBChB (Hons) and PhD from the University of Glasgow, the latter for his thesis on “Psychosocial and Biological Determinants of Ill Health in Relation to Deprivation”. His main clinical areas of activity are in obesity, clinical nutrition and inherited metabolic disorders.

He is Clinical lead for Obesity and Service, Clinical director for Clinical Biochemistry in NHS Grampian, Co-chair of the Local Organising Committee for the UK Congress on Obesity 2025 and Chair of the Clinical Biochemistry Panel of Examiners for the Royal College of Pathologists. He is co-author of a textbook on Clinical Biochemistry.

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Ketan Dhatariya

Ketan Dhatariya graduated from the University of London in 1991 and did his diabetes and endocrinology training in and around London. He was also a part time General practitioner and took some time out of his training to spend a year doing intensive care medicine and anaesthetics.

After finishing his training in 2001 he went to do a research fellowship in endocrinology at Mayo Clinic. He was appointed as a Consultant in diabetes, endocrinology and general medicine at the Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital in 2004, and Honorary Professor of Medicine at the University of East Anglia in 2019.

He has several national roles in the UK. He is the Chair of the Association of British Clinical Diabetologists and was also the Chair of the Joint British Diabetes Societies Inpatient Care Group. He is the Chair of the Examining Board for the UK Specialist Clinical Exam in Diabetes and Endocrinology. He is the Section co-editor for diabetes for www.endotext.org. He is also the Chair of the 2027 International Working Group for the Diabetic Foot guideline writing group for wound healing.

Ketan Dhatariya has over 230 peer reviewed publications and has published over 25 book chapters on inpatient diabetes, peri-operative diabetes care or on the diabetic foot.

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Emma English

Having completed her PhD in biochemistry Emma undertook her clinical scientist training at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge and holds HCPC registration. Emma is the Chair of an IFCC international education committee on diabetes biomarkers with a focus in LMICs. She is also a consultant to the WHO as well as other NGOs.

Emma is currently head of the Medicine, Health and Life Sciences portfolio at the University of Cambridge, Institute of Professional and Continuing Education. She has a broad experience of teaching and learning on a wide range of health programmes including, graduate entry medicine, biomedical science and dietetics.

She has held the role of Director of Postgraduate Research and currently chairs the Institutes Teaching and Learning committee.

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Martin Farley

Martin Farley is the Associate director of Environmental Sustainability at UKRI.

He has worked extensively around sustainable research and developed the LEAF programme, and is currently leading UKRI’s SPARKHub.

He initiated sustainable science & laboratory programmes at Edinburgh, King’s College London, and UCL, and co-founded UKNSR.

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Danielle Freedman

2018 - 2023 - UK member of the (EFLM) Working Group on Post Analytic Phases
2012 - Present - Chair of Lab Tests Online Board UK, A peer reviewed, non commercial, patient centered website

Main interests include clinical endocrinology, point of care testing and, importantly, the value of laboratory testing with regard to patient safety and patient outcome.

Over 100 publications in peer review journals including Lancet, New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA and Annals of Clinical Biochemistry and 10 book chapters.

Nominated as one of the TOP 100 International Power List of Influential Laboratory Medicine Professionals (November 2015).

In 2018, awarded the very prestigious award of Honorary Membership of the ACB for her International work in Laboratory Medicine.

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Ian Godber

Ian trained in Clinical Biochemistry in Dundee and Nottingham, then moved to NHS Lanarkshire initially as a Principal biochemist, and was later appointed to a post as Consultant clinical scientist and Clinical lead, where he developed an interest in laboratory processes and IT.

He was the Clinical lead for the Scottish Clinical Biochemistry Managed Diagnostic Network from 2016-2020. He moved into his current role as Consultant clinicalsScientist and Lead clinician in Biochemistry at the QEUH in Glasgow in 2020.

Ian has been a senior examiner in Clinical Biochemistry for the Royal College of Pathologists for a number of years. In 2025 Ian took up the role of President of the Association for Laboratory Medicine and will be the Congress president for EuroMedLab when it is held in London in 2027.

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Mark Gurnell

Mark Gurnell holds several senior appointments in Cambridge:

• Professor of Clinical Endocrinology, University of Cambridge
• Clinical lead, Endocrine Services, Addenbrooke's Hospital
• Head of section, Department of Medicine
• Clinical subdean, School of Clinical Medicine

His clinical & research interests are focused on pituitary, adrenal & thyroid disorders.

He serves on several national & international committees including:

• Council, UK Society for Endocrinology
• Education Committee, European Society of Endocrinology
• Board of directors, Professional Education & Career Development Committees, Pituitary Society

He currently holds several senior appointments in medical education, including:

• Chair, Executive Board, UK Medical Schools Council Assessment Alliance
• Chair, Exam Board, UK Medical Licensing Assessment (MLA) Applied Knowledge Test
• Co-chair, European Board Examination in Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism

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Dominic Harrington

Dominic Harrington is the Chief scientific officer for SYNLAB UK and Ireland and is responsible for driving innovation, research and development in pathology services. He established the Innovation Academy in 2013 and hosts an annual Innovation Academy symposium. In 2013 he established the Future Leaders in Innovation group to provide opportunities for our leaders of the future.

Dominic’s primary research interests are in the development and application of biomarkers for the assessment of vitamin status. To support this, he coined the word ‘Nutristasis’ and established the ‘Human Nutristasis Unit’ at St. Thomas’ Hospital more than 25 years ago. The Unit now has a dedicated team of 14 scientists.

Dominic also established the international external quality assurance scheme for vitamin K (KEQAS) in 1996. His PhD was on the ‘Development of Chromatographic Methods for the Measurement of the Urinary Metabolites of Vitamin K and Their Utility for Vitamin K Status Assessment’.

Dominic has published more than 80 scientific papers and books. He has an honorary academic position at King’s College London and is a Visiting professor at the School of Biosciences and Medicine, University of Surrey.

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Claire Hart

Claire Hart is the Lead clinical scientist for the Metabolic diagnostic service at Sheffield Children’s Hospital. 

After completing Grade A training in Edinburgh, including a stint at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children where she first fell in love with metabolic biochemistry, she obtained her first permanent position at Sheffield Children’s Hospital. Here she gained significant experience of inborn error diagnosis and largely completed her professional qualifications, becoming FRCPath in 2008.

In 2007, she took the opportunity to move to Singapore to take up a position at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital with the remit of setting up a metabolic service for Singapore.

After 4 years she handed over the reigns and returned to the UK, working firstly at the Willink Biochemical Genetics laboratory in Manchester before returning full circle to Sheffield Children’s in 2015. Since then she has consolidated her expertise in IEM diagnosis, specialising in peroxisomal, sterol and bile acid synthesis disorders in particular.

Having developed an increasing interest in metabolomics in IEM diagnosis she successfully applied for an NIHR Pre-doctoral fellowship which she has been undertaking part time since early 2025, with the aim of developing a PhD research proposal in the subject area and applying for NIHR Doctoral funding.

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Melanie Hart

Melanie Hart is a Consultant clinical scientist and Laboratory director of the Neuroimmunology and CSF Laboratory, based adjacent to the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, at Queen Square (UCLH), with more than a decade of post doctorate experience in this field, having undertaken Grade A and B clinical scientist training in large NHS hospitals.

She holds fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists, is a member of the NEQAS steering committee for Neuroimmunology and a member of the steering committee for the ADAPT trial.

She is supported by the UCLH Biomedical Research centre and holds an honorary contract with UCL and has a growing publication history in the field.

In addition to directing the laboratory service, she oversees the translation of novel neurological biomarkers into tests suitable for clinical use.

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Katharine Hayden

Kath Hayden is a Consultant Clinical Biochemist at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and Honorary Senior Lecturer at the University of Manchester.

Following training in South Manchester, Kath has held posts in hospitals in Manchester and Liverpool over a 35 year period, overseeing significant advances in analytical technologies, point of care testing (POCT) and harmonisation of laboratories. With specialist interests in endocrinology, POCT, leadership and service improvement, her latest roles have been as Clinical Head of Division for Laboratory Medicine at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Trust Lead Healthcare Scientist, Clinical Director for Laboratory Medicine and Head of Service for Clinical Biochemistry at Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.  

Pronouns: She/her

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John Hazlehurst

Jonathan Hazlehurst is a Clinical academic at the University of Birmingham and runs the large specialist weight management service at Birmingham Heartlands Hospital. He studied medicine and a DPhil at the University of Oxford.

His academic interests include clinical trials as well as mapping work to improve access to obesity services and a wide range of academic and commercial studies. He speaks and publishes widely in these areas.

More recently he is part of several NIHR funded studies looking at long term outcomes of thyrotoxicosis treatment, prediction models for type 2 diabetes remission following bariatric surgery and an OLS i4i grant looking at digital provision of weight management services.

Jonathan is 1st author of the national guidance on postbariatric hypoglycaemia. He works closely with his ICB to try to turn NICE guidance and technology appraisals into clinical reality for patients and understands the full challenge in this area as well as the potential opportunities and pitfalls associated with digital services.

He is a passionate advocate for patient first language and is proud to provide ongoing support for patient advocates as part of ECPO as well as training and support colleagues in obesity.

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Katy Heaney

Katy Heaney is a Consultant clinical scientist and nationally recognised leader in Point of Care Testing (POCT), with over 20 years’ experience in the NHS. They are known for combining scientific expertise with compassionate leadership, and for championing diagnostics that are accessible, effective, and centred on patients.

Katy previously served as Chief healthcare scientist at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, representing healthcare science at executive level and leading on workforce strategy, engagement, and innovation. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Katy was seconded to the Department of Health and Social Care and later the UK Health Security Agency, leading national operational supply and rollout of rapid testing across the UK.

As Specialty lead for POCT at Berkshire and Surrey Pathology Services, Katy oversees diagnostic services across hospitals, community settings, and military units, supporting tens of thousands of patients daily. Their work has been instrumental in embedding POCT into modern care pathways.

A passionate educator and mentor, Katy has taught at several universities and frequently presents at national and international conferences. They are a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists and the Academy for Healthcare Science, a Pathology Power List honouree, and winner of the 2025 NHS England Chief Scientific Officer’s Healthcare Science Team of the Year award.

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Adrian Heaps

No bio provided

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Vicki Heath

With over 20 years experience in health and social care, Victoria advises the Welsh Government on the most effective ways to use healthcare science to deliver improved healthcare.

As the professional lead for healthcare science in Wales, she represents more than 50 healthcare science professions in Welsh Government.

Victoria is dual registered with the HCPC as a Biomedical scientist and Clinical scientist, with a background in microbiology and immunology. She is passionate about apprenticeships and is a Lead assessor for the National School of Healthcare Science. Outside of her role in Government, Victoria is an award winning science communicator with a particular interest in raising the profile of healthcare science careers.

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Professor Dame Sue Hill

Professor Dame Sue Hill DBE FMedSci FRSB FRCP(Hon) FRCPath (Hon) FHCS (Hon) is the Chief scientific officer for England and the NHS in England, is the Head of profession for the scientific workforce and provides scientific leadership and advice for the wider health and care system. A respiratory scientist by background, she has an international academic and clinical research reputation

Dame Sue leads and directs genomics in the NHS, driving the world-leading programme to introduce a nationwide Genomic Medicine Service working in partnership between the NHS and academia, industry, UK and international governments/initiatives, building on her work in heading up the NHS contribution to the world-leading 100,000 Genomes Project.

Sue was made a Dame Commander in 2018 in recognition of the scale of her contribution to British genomics, having previously been awarded an OBE in 2005 in recognition of her services to healthcare science.

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Edwin Jabbari

Edwin Jabbari is a research group leader at the UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology and Consultant Neurologist in the Movement Disorders Department at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery.

His research is centred on the integration of fluid biomarker and genetic approaches to enhance the diagnostic accuracy of Parkinsonian disorders, refine clinical trial design, and discover novel treatment targets.

He has recently been awarded an MRC Clinician Scientist Fellowship which has enabled him to establish his research group at UCL to focus on the development of alpha-synuclein and tau seed amplification assays.

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Jayagandan Jayamani

Dr. Jayagandan Jayamani is a Specialist in Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine with expertise in laboratory quality management and digital transformation. He holds an MBBS from Madurai Medical College and completed his MD in Biochemistry at Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh (PGIMER), one of India’s premier institutes for advanced medical education and research. He is also a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists (FRCPath), UK.

He has led innovative, home-grown digital initiatives to enhance workflow efficiency, patient safety, and sustainability in laboratory services. His professional interests include quality improvement, real-time data integration, and building resilient, future-ready laboratory systems that align clinical excellence with operational and environmental responsibility.

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Lorna Jones

Lorna Jones has a keen interest in science and public health and how they link to identify hazards and their implications with risk to the public. She started this journey by completing a BSc in Biomedical Sceince at Bangor University in 2015 while taking a year out at Ysbyty Gwynedd to complete IBMS registration portfolio.

After, she was employed by Ysbyty Gwynedd in Biochemistry Department and then joined the Biochemistry Department at Royal Derby Hospital in 2016. During this time, she completed her Specialised IBMS Biochemistry portfolio in 2019 and then became a Specailst biomedical scientist.

Earlier this year, she completed a funded PhD investigating the potential toxicity associated with microplastics and human like gastrointestinal exposure in conjunction with UK Health Security Agency and Imperial College London.

From 2023 was employed as a Higher toxicologist in Toxicology department in Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards at UK Health Security Agency.

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Tejas Kelaria

consultant in chemical pathology, Black Country Pathology Services

Tejas Kalaria is a Consultant in Chemical Pathology and Metabolic Medicine at Black Country Pathology Services, The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, and Member young scientist on the European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EFLM) post-analytical phase working group.

Dr Kalaria’s areas of interest include endocrine biochemistry and post-analytics.

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Ashvini Keshavan

Ashvini Keshavan is a Senior clinical research fellow and Honorary consultant neurologist at the Dementia Research Centre UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology.

A MBBChir graduate of Trinity College, Cambridge, she completed postgraduate medical and neurological training in London, and obtained her PhD in 2019 from University College London on Cerebrospinal fluid and blood biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease.

Her ongoing work examines these biomarkers in clinical and pre-clinical cohorts, aiming toward application in more real-world settings, serving diverse populations.

She is the joint primary investigator for the UK-wide ADAPT (Alzheimer’s disease Diagnosis and Plasma p-Tau217) study, and the communications chair for the ISTAART Biofluid Biomarkers Professional Interest Area, and co-chair of its real World Translation work group.

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Eric Kilpatrick

Eric Kilpatrick is a Consultant in Chemical Pathology at Wythenshawe Hospital in Manchester. He is also an Honorary professor of Clinical Biochemistry at Hull York Medical School and was Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University.

He has previously been Division chief for Clinical Biochemistry at Sidra Medicine in Doha, Qatar, and a Consultant in Chemical Pathology at both Manchester Royal Infirmary and Hull Royal Infirmary.

He is a past President of the Association for Laboratory Medicine (previously the Association for Clinical Biochemistry (ACB)) and previous Chair of the Science Committee of the European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EFLM).

He has a long-standing research interest in laboratory medicine and diabetes and has published over 200 papers on these and other topics.

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Nathan Lorde

Nathan Lorde has served as a Consultant chemical pathologist at Heartlands Hospital, University Hospitals Birmingham since August 2025, having previously undergone Specialty training in the West Midlands region.

His interests at present lie in error detection in the Clinical Chemistry as well as in using laboratory data to support patients in evidence-supported cardiovascular risk reduction.

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Amro Maarouf

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Finlay MacKenzie

Finlay MacKenzie and Rachel Marrington are Consultant Clinical Scientists at Birmingham Quality (University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust).

Finlay has been involved in the design and delivery of UK NEQAS Clinical Chemistry EQA since 1987 and has been Director of Birmingham Quality for ten years.

One of Finlay’s greatest achievements was to take an idea from Gordon Challand and to work with him and with programmer Andy Robins to produce the UK NEQAS for Interpretative Comments infrastructure.  Working with Advisors and Assessors colleagues, the Scheme was, and remains, unique in its approach to marking whole comments and not following rigid imposed marking schemes or parsing out component parts.

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Cerys March

Cerys March is a Principal clinical scientist at the Royal Marsden, the leading specialist cancer hospital in the UK. She was one of the first STPs so has been working in biochemistry in the NHS for 13 years, training and working first at the Royal Surrey Hospital (within BSPS) in Guildford.

Before this she completed a PhD in Oncology, so is excited to now be working at the Royal Marsden where so much oncology research takes place.

Cerys and her young children are passionate about nature and she has appointed herself sustainability lead in blood sciences. This included setting up green forums both there and across the laboratories of RMH. She feels that she needs to shout about green issues to help other laboratories take their first steps to a sustainable future.

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Rachel Marrington

Dr Rachel Marrington is joint Scheme Organiser and is using her knowledge from when she worked in a routine clinical biochemistry laboratory to support and expand the Scheme to ensure that it remains relevant to the real world.

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Tze How Mok

Tze How Mok is a Senior clinical research fellow at the MRC Prion Unit at UCL, a Honorary consultant neurologist at the UK NHS National Prion Clinic (NPC) at Queen Square, and a Consultant neurologist at East Surrey Hospital in the UK.

He has spent almost 10 years providing specialist clinical care at the NPC and researching various aspects of prion disease at the MRC Prion Unit.

His interests and expertise include assembling a CSF and blood biofluid archive particularly from asymptomatic at-risk individuals, and developing biomarkers capable of predicting proximity of clinical conversion, with special emphasis on prion seed amplification assays.

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Miguel Morales

No bio provided

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Martin Myers

Consultant clinical biochemist, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Dr Myers has recently retired as a consultant Clinical Biochemist, and Laboratory Director of Clinical Biochemistry at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Preston, UK. Whilst at Preston Dr Myers has introduced a continuous program of Pathology redesign, improving the clinical and operational effectiveness and productivity of pathology. He set up the Point of Care Testing Team, which he led for 30 years, introducing POCT throughout the whole Health Economy of Central Lancashire. During this time, he was the Associate Divisional Medical Director of Pathology for 4 years, Clinical Director of Pathology for 14 years, Lead Scientist for over 10 years.

Dr Myers remains the Co-Clinical Lead for the NHSE Pathology Getting it Right First Time (GIRFT) Programme, which has undertaken an evidenced-based review of Pathology services in England in order to improve quality and reduce unwarranted variation.  The National Report was launched in 2022 and the GIRFT Clinical Team is now working on implementing the recommendations, including the effect of pre-analytical variables on results, and identifying what are the Analytical Performance Specifications for Decision Diagnostics such as HbA1c, PSA, CA125 etc.  Recently, Dr Myers co-led a National investigation into the clinical effect of IVD performance.  This has resulted in many recommendations and with a small group of colleagues, the Patient-Focussed Laboratory Medicine group has been formed to ensure that Laboratory performance is directly linked to Clinical effect.

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Lisa O'Fee

Lisa O'Fee is a Sustainability advisor at the Institute of Cancer Research. A Biochemist by training, she has over twenty years of experience as a drug discovery scientist in the pharmaceutical and academic sciences sector.

Leading on sustainable science and procurement, her grass roots insight has streamlined sustainability efforts, bringing a realistic approach to lab sustainability and breaking down silos, to enable effective collaboration with estates and facilities to meet the ICR’s sustainability targets.

A co-investigator for one of the first MRC Environmental sustainability in life sciences and medical practice funded projects, she is collaborating with Professor Richard Murphy from the University of Surrey to carry out a life cycle assessment of common laboratory protocols. This project will provide data at the granular level, on the associated environmental impacts and areas where these can be reduced, allowing scientists to make more sustainable choices in the way they conduct their experiments, without compromising data quality.

The founder of ActNow, the ICR’s sustainability working group, Lisa has been an integral part of the team that put together the ICR’s sustainability action plan, ‘Sustainable Discoveries’, and strives to embed sustainability in the everyday, in the mission of making the discoveries to defeat cancer.

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Daniel Payne

No bio provided

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Tahir Pillay

Tahir Pillay holds several appointments as:

• Chief specialist, professor and head of the Department of Chemical Pathology, University of Pretoria and National Health Laboratory service
• Honorary professor of Chemical Pathology, University of Cape Town
• Clinical director of International Activities, Royal College of Pathologists, London and Deputy Editor, Annals of Clinical Biochemistry.

His past appointments includes:

• Editor-in-Chief , Journal of Clinical Pathology
• Past chair of Communications and Publication Division(CPD) of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory medicine (IFCC)

He received MBChB cum laude (University of Natal), PhD in biochemistry from the University of Cambridge and a postgraduate specialist training at Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College, London and postdoctoral training at the University of California San Diego.

Tahir is also a fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists (FRCPath).

His prior awards include the Juvenile Diabetes International Fellowship, the American Foundation of Clinical Research outstanding postdoctoral award, the Wellcome Trust Senior Clinical Fellowship, Professors Prize from the Association for Clinical Biochemistry, UK and the Senior Researcher award from the South African Association for Clinical Biochemistry.

Tahir research spans molecular cell biology of insulin signalling, the cell biology of insulin resistance, molecular modelling of ligand-receptor complexes and development of new diagnostic probes for point-of-care testing using recombinant DNA technology.

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Nicola Pullan

Nicola Pullan is a Consultant clinical biochemist at the Royal United Hospital in Bath (RUH). Her scientific career began with a focus on molecular microbiology, with her PhD research looking at nitric oxide detoxifying proteins expressed by bacteria as a mechanism for pathogens to evade anti-microbial nitric oxide production by macrophages.

Following completion of her PhD at The University of Sheffield and a short Post-doctoral position at The John Innes Centre in Norwich, Nicola moved into the field of Clinical Biochemistry, completing training at Nottingham University Hospitals and Royal Derby Hospital.

Nicola then made her move to the Southwest, working as a Senior clinical scientist at Southmead Hospital in Bristol and then moving to the RUH in 2013. Her expertise has grown in the field of general biochemistry and quality management. Nicola is clinical lead for the RUH laboratory “myeloma screening” service. In addition, she chairs the local West of England Pathology Network technical biochemistry group facilitating collaboration between local biochemistry departments on technical aspects of laboratory services.

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Catherine Ross

Catherine Ross is the Chief scientific officer for Scotland, Scottish Government’s most senior clinical adviser for Health Science professional issues, and head of profession for the scientific workforce in the NHS in Scotland.

Catherine is a Clinical scientist, Chartered scientist and Chartered biologist and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology, the National Institute of Prevention and Cardiovascular Health in Ireland and the European Society of Cardiology.

Catherine has been awarded a number of Honorary Fellowships including the Royal College of Pathologists, Academy for Healthcare science and The Physiological Society. She is the recipient of a number of prestigious awards including the Outstanding Women in Science award presented by Princess Anne and the Ulster University Distinguished Graduate Award.

She is a Visiting professor at Edinburgh Napier University, Manchester Metropolitan University and Ulster University. Catherine is a non-executive director of the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, and a member of the governing Council of Ulster University.

Catherine holds a number of senior leadership positions nationally and internationally. She is the current President of the Science Council, the awarding body of Chartership in Science, and is a Board member of the Association of Cardiovascular Nursing and Allied Professions within the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).

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Rav Sodi

Consultant Clinical Biochemist and Head of Department , Mid and South Essex NHS Trust

Rav Sodi is a Consultant clinical biochemist at the Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Broomfield Hospital, Mid & South Essex NHS Trust and Honorary senior fellow at the Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge.

He undertook undergraduate studies in Canada and postgraduate studies and specialization in Clinical Biochemistry in the UK. 

He is the Director of Publications and Communications and a member of the Scientific Committee of the Association for Laboratory Medicine (UK).

He holds a number of teaching roles and has published widely in the field of Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine and is a contributing author in the leading textbooks of the profession including the Tietz Textbook of Laboratory Medicine. He has written numerous innovative e-learning laboratory medicine education platforms including: the award-winning Learning Lab developed by the Association for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine (USA) and presented in the European Federation of Laboratory Medicine (EFLM) syllabus course.

His current research interests are patient-centred diagnostics particularly with applying strategies involving artificial intelligence, personalised genomics and home self-testing to improve the diagnosis and monitoring of diseases.

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Ellen Stephens

Ellen Stephens is a Clinical biochemist at Berkshire and Surrey Pathology Services. She has over 10 years experience in both NHS and overseas clinical biochemistry laboratories, and has achieved FRCPath.

With a keen interest in training, she is currently a Co-lead editor for the NSHCS Clinical Biochemistry STP curriculum.

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Emma Stevenson

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Royce Vincent

Royce Vincent is a Consultant chemical pathologist at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in London and an Adjunct senior lecturer within the Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences at King's College London.Vincent is also a Strategic clinical lead for South East London Pathology services (Synnovis: a collaborative partnership between Guy’s, St Thomas’, and King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trusts, together with SYNLAB UK & Ireland).

His postgraduate education includes specialist training in Chemical Pathology/Metabolic Medicine as well as clinical research, undertaken at King's College Hospital and Imperial College London. Vincent was awarded a Master’s degree by University College London in 2008 and completed his research Doctorate at Imperial College London in 2012.

Vincent’s primary clinical interests encompass bariatric medicine, clinical nutrition, and endocrinology. He serves as Chief or Principal investigator in a number of landmark randomised clinical trials, particularly those focusing on major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and obesity, including studies such as SELECT, REDEFINE-1 and ZEUS.

Demonstrating a strong commitment to research, Vincent has secured numerous research grants, has an extensive publication record and acts as Editor for various peer-reviewed journals.

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Alison Whitelegg

Alison Whitelegg is a Consultant clinical scientist in Immunology at University Hospital Southampton and the Immunology clinical lead at Portsmouth University Hospitals NHS Trust. She leads laboratory immunology services across both organisations, overseeing diagnostic pathways, service development, and the delivery of high-quality patient care.

Recently, Alison has been leading the practical rollout of the CSF kappa light chain index test for multiple sclerosis across the South 6 Pathology Network, helping bring this important diagnostic tool into routine clinical use.

Alison Whitelegg also plays a national leadership role as Chair of the Immunology Professional Committee, supporting the development and standards of Immunology Clinical Scientists across the UK. She has worked in the NHS for 20 years and remains committed to training and mentoring the next generation of clinical scientists.

Her academic background includes a PhD from the Pirbright Institute and postdoctoral research at the Anthony Nolan Research Institute, with a focus on T-cell and vaccine-specific immune responses.

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Larisa Wiedemann

Larisa Wiedemann is a Clinical scientist at Berkshire and Surrey Pathology Services, based predominantly at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust. She has worked on as well as led a number of successful cross discipline collaboration projects. One such example was recognised at the Frimley Health Staff Awards in 2023 and shortlisted for a Medal Award at LabMedUK24. More recently Larisa has been focusing on developing a network wide HbA1c service and delivering a harmonised approach together with colleagues from the industry, pathology as well as specialist services.

Larisa is deeply passionate about bringing people together to work collaboratively toward shared goals that deliver mutual benefits. She is committed to keeping patient outcomes and experiences at the forefront of all decisions and proposed changes, ensuring that patient-centred care remains the guiding focus throughout the process.

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John Wilding

John Wilding leads clinical research into obesity, diabetes and endocrinology at the University of Liverpool, where he has worked since 1996, after training in Southampton and London.

His clinical interests focus on caring for people with diabetes and obesity and he leads specialist services for obesity at Aintree University Hospital – designated centre for Obesity Management by the UK and European Associations for the Study of Obesity.

John’s research team focusses on developing and evaluating treatments for obesity and type 2 diabetes. He has published over 400 papers, chapters and review articles, including clinical trials in diabetes and obesity, as well as studies of adipocyte biology and metabolism.

He has advised NICE and NHS England on various aspects of obesity care. He was previously Chair of UK Association for the Study of Obesity and is a past President of the World Obesity Federation.

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Tim Wreghitt (OBE)

Dr Wreghitt is currently retired, but continues to work part time. He entered laboratory medicine in 1977 at the PHLS Laboratory at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge after completing a PhD at Surrey University as a Wellcome Foundation Fellow.
He passed the MRCPath exam in 1982 and then conducted innovative work on developing novel ELISA diagnostic tests, which improved clinical practice, especially in transplant virology.
In the mid-1980s, he was elected as PHLS Staff Assessor and was Chairman of the Department of Health Microbiologists Assessors' Panel from 1989-2011. He was a founder member of the Registration Council for Clinical Scientists which led to Modernising Scientific Careers and the HCPC.
He was a founder member of the Association of Clinical Microbiologists (Chairman l990 - 1993). In 1999, he was elected to RCPath Council, elected as Treasurer in 2004 and as Vice President (2008-2011). From 2008-2011, he was chair of the RCPath Clinical Virology Committee and chaired the committee creating FRCPath curricula for Modernising Scientific Careers.
From 2004 – 2010, Dr Wreghitt was the HPA Regional Microbiologist for the East of England.
Dr Wreghitt has published 5 books, chaired a team that won two gold medals at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show for the RCPath and published over 160 scientific papers.

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Ian Young

No bio provided

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