Speakers

Joy Ardill

Joy Ardill studied Biochemistry at Queen’s University Belfast and completed a PhD in Medicine in 1973. She is a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists, a Fellow of the Association of Clinical Biochemists and Bachelor of Divinity.  She was awarded the title, Honorary Professor of Medicine at Queen’s University Belfast in 2006 for her contribution to teaching and research in NETs.  She has been Head of the Regional Regulatory Peptide Laboratory in The Royal Victoria Hospital NHS Trust Belfast for several decades, retiring in 2012 but returned part time until 2022.

Committed to spreading awareness of NETs, Joy delivers a 15- day student selected component on NETs for third year medical students at Queen’s. Over the years she has supervised more than 30 postgraduate student doctorate degrees and has examined PhD theses in the UK, Europe and Australia. She was an external examiner for Trinity College Dublin until 2022.

Since 1970 Joy has been heavily committed to research, in the early years predominantly in the study of peptic ulcer disease.  In 1989-1990 she spent a sabbatical year in a rural hospital in Sierra Leone, West Africa.  Since 1990 she has been involved in studying the chemistry of NETs.  Belfast is the regional referral centre for NETs and a NET Centre of Excellence in Europe. The laboratory facilitates chemical diagnosis and monitoring of patients with NETs for Ireland and the UK. She established the first UK multidisciplinary team for NETs in Belfast in 1999. Over the years she has been principal investigator or co-ordinator for several NET trials in Belfast and has been an advisor to several pharmaceutical companies including Ipsen and Novartis.

Joy is author of more than 100 peer reviewed publications and has presented nationally and internationally. A founder member the UKINETs she has been a co-author of the UKINET Guidelines.  She is an active member of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC), Quality of Life Group  (Secretary 2004-2010) and a member of the team that developed the EORTC QLQ NET-21 questionnaire.

Her research has focused on earlier diagnosis, circulating prognostic indicators for NETs and the possibility of using circulating chemistry to guide earlier treatment intervention in an endeavour to improve both survival outcome and quality of life.  Joy attends the Northern Ireland NET Patient Support Group and for the past 5 years has been a member of the scientific advisory committee for the Healing NET Foundation, an active NET patient physician group in the USA.

Catherine Bailey

After PhD studies in the Haematology Department at The University of Wales College of Medicine Catherine undertook Clinical Scientist in Clinical Biochemistry in Cardiff. On completion of training she took up a Clinical Scientist post in Aneurin Bevan University Health Board where she is now a Consultant Clinical Scientist and Head of Blood Sciences. Since 2014 she has worked with Rachel Still as joint All-Wales Biochemistry Standardisation Lead. Catherine is also QA advisor to Bowel Screening Wales.

Nicola Barlow

Nicola is Consultant Clinical Scientist and SAS Director of the Trace Elements Laboratory at Black Country Pathology Services (based at Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust). Her role embraces both general biochemistry and oversight of a number of specialist laboratory services. Current interests include heavy metals, vitamins, measurement of anti-TNFα drugs and mass spectrometry.

Robert Barski

Consultant Clinical Scientist, Lead for Biochemical Genetics and Director of Screening Laboratory at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. 

Trained as a Clinical Scientist at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust before moving to Leeds to specialise in Biochemical Genetics in 2008.  I have worked at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust for nearly 15 years becoming the lead for the Biochemical Genetics and Screening Laboratories in 2020.  The Leeds laboratory provides Biochemical Genetics and newborn bloodspot screening services for the West Yorkshire region and my routine duties focus on clinically leading these services, and providing clinical interpretation and advice for inherited metabolic disorders.  I have a passion for the specialty and have particular interest in disorders of creatine biosynthesis and amino acid metabolism.   

Katharine Bates

Katharine trained as a Clinical Scientist at East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust. In 2009 she started at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust as a Senior Clinical Scientist, where she progressed to becoming the Consultant Clinical Scientist for Biochemistry and Scientific Director for the King’s sites under Synnovis.

Hazel Borthwick

No bio provided

Brendan Byrne

On completion of his PhD, Brendan went to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin to work as a Clinical Biochemist. He remained there for 20 years, specialising in laboratory aspects of the Neuroendocrine service for both adults and paediatrics. In 2019, he moved to the nearby Mater Misericordiae University Hospital to take up a Principal Clinical Biochemist position. There he continues his interests in Neuroendocrine tumours, plays a major role in departmental quality control and is involved in the provision of an Irish EQA scheme for Clinical Chemistry.  

Carrie Chadwick

Carrie completed her Clinical Scientist Training at South Manchester University Hospital Trust and Royal Liverpool University Hospital.   She was appointed as a Principal Clinical Scientist at Aintree University Hospital and also at The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust in 2008, where she specialised in Neurobiochemistry and Neuroimmunology. Carrie was appointed as Consultant Clinical Scientist and Laboratory Director at The Neuroscience Laboratories at The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust in 2013.

Carrie has a specialist interest in paraneoplastic antibodies, anti-epileptic drug analysis and biobanking; she established a cerebrospinal fluid and blood bio bank at the Trust in 2016, which has since been renamed The Liverpool Neuroscience Biobank at The Walton Centre (LNBW). The LNBW has enabled collaborative translational research with local health partners.  Carrie is also the current ACB Chair for the North-West region.

Allison Chipchase

I have worked as a clinical scientist at the Norfolk and Norwich since 2006. I am the lab lead in Norfolk for antenatal trisomy screening, the deputy director of the SAAS for Calcium and Bone Metabolism Markers, and the clinical lead for both our specialist endocrine lab, and our spoke lab at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King’s Lynn. I am the Regional Tutor for the ACB in the East of England and currently train both STP and HSST trainees. I have been committed, throughout my career, to expanding my own knowledge on leadership and management, both theoretical and practical. I am always keen to explore solutions to common, and less common, scenarios, to benefit from others perspectives and experience.

Penny Cliff

Dr Penny Cliff is the Lead Scientist for the Synnovis Infection Sciences Laboratory based at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital in London. Areas of interest are respiratory infections, sexually transmitted infections and the use of next generation sequencing technologies in the advancement of infectious disease diagnosis. She has been on the Microbiology Professional Committee of the ACB for 10 years, most recently in the role of Scientific Committee and Clinical Practice representative.

Paul O Collinson

Dr P. O Collinson MA MB BChir FRCPath MD FAACC FRCP FESC.  Professor of Cardiovascular Biomarkers at St George’s University of London and Honorary Consultant Cardiologist studied at St Catharine’s College Cambridge (Medicine and Biochemistry) and subsequently at St Thomas Hospital and the Royal Free Hospital. He was won several prizes and awards for his work on Cardiovascular Biomarkers (ran the first RCT of cardiac diagnostics) including the Hytest Award (Now IFCC award) for lifetime achievement in cardiovascular biomarkers.  Published over 300 papers and review articles. Likes SCUBA diving and photographing sharks. Especially the ones with big teeth.

M J Duffy

Professor Duffy who is based at St Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin and University College, Dublin has an international reputation for his research in cancer biomarkers, having published in excess of 250 papers on the topic. In addition to his research and clinical work, Professor Duffy served as a member of 2 International Expert Panels for establishing guidelines on the clinical use of tumor markers, i.e., the National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry (NACB) (USA) and the European Group on Tumor Markers (EGTM).

Professor Duffy received his BSc (Hons) from the University of Galway and his PhD from the University of Manchester. Over the years, Professor Duffy has received multiple awards for his work on cancer including the Abbott Award of the International Society of Oncology and BioMarkers (ISOBM), the St Luke’s Medal Lecture, the Conway Review Medal Lecture and the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland and the National Committee for Biochemistry Award Medal Lecture of the Royal Irish Academy.

Kirsty Duncan

I am an Islet Cell Recipient Transplant Coordinator at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary working within the Beta Cell Replacement Service. This is a national programme covering Scotland and Northern Ireland providing transplant options for people mainly with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus. I have worked in islet cell transplantation since the programme received national funding from NSD in 2009. 

Maria Fitzgibbon

Professor Maria Fitzgibbon, BSc (Hons), MSc, PhD, FRCPath (UK) and European Specialist in Clinical Biochemistry (EurSpLM)

Consultant Clinical Biochemist Mater Private Hospitals Network (Dublin and Cork) and Clinical Professor, School of Medicine, University College Dublin.  

Visiting Consultant to Cavan Monaghan Hospital.

Previously Lead Consultant Clinical Biochemist at Mater University Hospital, Dublin and at Barts Health Trust, London.

Clinical and research interests in biochemical and molecular diagnostics in a range of endocrine, cardiovascular, metabolic and other disease states.

Danielle Freedman

Consultant Chemical Pathologist, Associate Physician in Endocrinology, Clinical Director of Pathology, and Deputy Medical Director of Bedfordshire Hospitals  

Trained in medicine at the Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine, University of London, and then further training in Clinical Biochemistry and Endocrinology at the RFHSM and the Middlesex Hospital, University of London.

Nationally, elected Vice President of Royal College of Pathologists (RCPath) (2008 - 2011)  

National member of the Association for Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine (ACB) Council 2011 - 2015.  Currently, UK member of the (EFLM) Working Group on Post Analytic Phases (2018 - 2023)

Chair of Lab Tests Online Board UK (2012 - ) 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.

Naomi Gadsby

Naomi Gadsby has a PhD from the University of Edinburgh and completed her pre- and post-registration clinical scientist training in Medical Microbiology in NHS Lothian. She became a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists by examination in Medical Microbiology in 2017. Since 2019 she has been working as a Consultant Clinical Scientist in Medical Microbiology at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.

Stephen Gibbons

Consultant Biochemist

I have worked at LTHT within Specialist Laboratory Medicine for the last 6 years. My main role is to lead the specialist endocrine section where we principally focus on the measurement and interpretation of adrenal hormones. We have an excellent relationship with both the adult and paediatric endocrine teams at Leeds ensuring we develop our services to meet the changing demands of their patients.

Una Graham

Dr Graham is a consultant in the Regional Centre for Endocrinology and Diabetes in the Royal Victoria Hospital. She is Deputy Chair of the Northern Ireland Neuroendocrine Tumour Multidisciplinary Team and Chair of the Northern Ireland Insulin pump network and Diabetes technology network. She is a subcommittee member of the UK and Ireland Neuroendocrine Tumour Society Clinical Practice Committee.

Anna Hartley

 Dr Anna Hartley is a Consultant in Genitourinary Medicine at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.  She graduated from the University of Bristol and spent 10 years training at Barts Health NHS Trust.  Her specialist interests include diagnosis and management of sexually transmitted infections, HIV and genital skin disease.

Katharine Hayden

Katharine Hayden FRCPath CSci EuSpLM BSc

Kath Hayden is a Consultant Clinical Biochemist at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and President Elect of the Association for Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine. Following training in South Manchester, Kath has held posts in hospitals in Manchester and Liverpool for over 30 years, overseeing significant advances in analytical technologies, point of care testing and harmonisation of laboratories. With specialist interest in endocrinology, leadership and management, her latest roles have been as Clinical Head of Division for Laboratory Medicine at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and Honorary Senior Lecturer at the University of Manchester.

Katy Heaney

Mrs Katy Heaney MSc DipRCPath

Consultant Clinical Scientist, Specialty lead Point of Care Testing

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust

Berkshire and Surrey Pathology Services

Katy has been working in the NHS and its services for 19 years in Clinical Biochemistry and Point of Care Testing (POCT). Currently employed as the Consultant Specialty lead for POCT for Berkshire and Surrey Pathology Services, the service covers 5 NHS Trusts, with 6 acute medical sites and multiple community services and the Clinical Director of the dedicated ISO accredited POCT EQA scheme, Qpoint. At the end of 2020 Katy was seconded to the Department of Health and Social Care, then later UKHSA, Operational Supplies team as the Point of care workflow programme lead, with the primary aim of providing technical and scientific leadership in the deployment of rapid covid testing into NHS Emergency departments.

Working in POCT requires technical, scientific and clinical expertise from the healthcare scientist workforce. The training day session has opportunity for trainees to gain practical training on POCT kit, understand the technical limitations of the most common of POCT tests and assess the clinical impact of their abilities.

Beverly Hird

Beverly Hird is Director of Newborn Screening and Consultant Clinical Biochemist at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT). She trained in the North West region and then specialised in Paediatric Biochemistry, joining Manchester Children’s Hospitals in 2004 (now part of MFT). Beverly is passionate about newborn screening, particularly implementing systems to review clinical outcomes and programme performance, recognising that screening can cause harm if not well-designed and executed. She has a special interest in Paediatric Endocrinology, particularly congenital hypothyroidism and congenital adrenal hypoplasia. Beverly is currently undertaking a research project on disorders of puberty.

Niamh Horton

After completing a PhD in Circadian regulation of Redox homeostasis at the University of Liverpool, Niamh commenced training in Clinical Biochemistry. She was primarily based at the Mid Cheshire NHS Foundation trust and also trained at several hospitals across the North West of England including Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester Children’s Hospital, Royal Bolton Hospital and the Walton Centre. Niamh then worked at Salford Royal Hospital, part of the Northern Care Alliance, and is now a Principal Clinical Biochemist based at The Countess of Chester Hospital and Wirral University Teaching Hospital. Niamh is a member of the North West ACB regional committee with a specialist interest in Point of Care testing.

Ian Hunter

No bio provided

Anthony Jackson-Crawford

I am a Principal Clinical Biochemist leading the Specialist Chemistry Laboratory at the Grange University Hospital in South Wales. I am also the Secretary for the Welsh Regional ACB Committee, and Test Lead for Biochemistry for the Welsh National LIMS project, LINC.

Jonathan Kay

Jonathan Kay spent most of his career as a chemical pathologist in Oxford. He has also been Clinical Informatics Director at NHS England, Professor of Health Informatics at University College London and City University London, and Chair of the Faculty of Clinical Informatics.

His research interests include the process of clinical investigation, medical knowledge management, and everyday technology at the point of care. With Ian Smith he developed the point of care testing implementations across the Oxford hospitals and the Oxfordshire Emergency Multidisciplinary Assessment Units. He has been a board member of Lab Tests Online UK since its creation.

He spends as much time as possible acting, walking and cycling.

Alex Lawson

Dr Lawson is a consultant clinical biochemist and toxicologist working in Birmingham UK. He graduated from the University of Birmingham with a BSc in Biochemistry and PhD in hormonal metabolism. He has worked at University Hospitals Birmingham since 2010. His special interests include the use of mass spectrometry for the measurement of drugs and hormones in biological fluids, clinical/post mortem toxicology and lab based assessment of medication adherence. 

Graham Lee

Dr Graham Lee is Consultant Clinical Biochemist at the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital (MMUH) Dublin, Midlands Hospital Mullingar and National Orthopaedic Hospital Cappagh.  He trained in the UK where he attained Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists.  He has experience working in many clinical biochemistry laboratories and healthcare settings in Northern Ireland, East Midlands, London and the Republic of Ireland.  He is Associate Professor at UCD where he is course director of the MSc in Clinical and Diagnostic Biochemistry and coordinator of several course modules.  He is Past-President of the Association of Clinical Biochemists in Ireland and previous Chair of the ACB’s Republic of Ireland (ROI) region as well as ACB ROI regional tutor.  He is a European Specialist in Laboratory Medicine (EuSpLM) and his contributions to the European Federation of Laboratory Medicine include corresponding member of the Task Group for the EFLM’s Post-graduate Syllabus Course and coordinator of the course’s Liver module.  He has worked on several Irish national programmes including the National Clinical Programme for Cancer and the National Clinical Programme for Pathology. 

Penny Lewthwaite

Dr Penny Lewthwaite is a Consultant and Lead Clinician in Infectious Diseases at Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust.

Her special interests include, HIV, and blood borne viruses, viral CNS infections and high consequence infectious diseases and emerging infections.

Kristen Lilly

Began the Scientist Training Programme (STP) in 2013 at University Hospitals Plymouth (UHP) and appointed as senior clinical scientist at UHP after completing the STP in 2016. In 2017, started the Higher Specialist Scientific Training (HSST) programme and promoted to Principal Clinical scientist in 2019 after passing FRCPath Part 1. Following completion of the HSST (including FRCPath Part 2), appointed to Consultant Clinical Scientist post at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals (STH) in December 2022.

Carys Lippiatt

Following a degree in Biochemistry at Cardiff University, I caught the Clinical Biochemistry bug from Dr Keith Griffiths whose offer of work experience as a MLA at Ysbyty Gwynedd and invitation to a Welsh ACB meeting inspired me to apply for a Grade A post at UCL. From London I moved up North for a Senior Clinical Scientist role in the Endocrine lab at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust where I also completed a PhD in biomarkers for Renal Cell Carcinoma. Having completed a HSST in Biochemical Genetics at Leeds and worked as a Principal Clinical Scientist at Mid Yorks Hospitals NHS Trust, I now work as a Consultant Clinical Scientist at Leeds, where I’m Clinical Lead for Specialist Laboratory Medicine and Director of the SAS-Associated Trace Elements lab. My interests are wide and varied! I do have a particular interest in lead poisoning, which is the subject of my talk at UKMedLab23.

Jessica Martin

No bio provided

Tim McDonald

Professor Timothy McDonald is a Consultant Clinical Biochemist and Director of the Blood Sciences Department at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital and an NIHR Senior Clinical Lecturer in the Diabetes  Unit at the University of Exeter Medical School, UK. His research focuses on the use of biochemical and immunological tests to improve classification and treatment of patients with diabetes. He has published over 100 peer reviewed papers and is chief investigator or PI on several major NIHR, MRC and EU projects.

Peadar McGing

Dr. Peadar McGing is a recently retired Principal Clinical Biochemist, having worked in the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital in Dublin for almost four decades. He graduated from University College Cork with a BSc, adding a PhD and an MSc (Clinical Biochemistry) from Trinity College Dublin, and finally FRCPath. He is also on the European register for Specialists in Laboratory Medicine (EuSpLM). He is the outgoing Secretary of ACBI and co-editor of the ACBI/ACB RoI newsletter Clinical Biochemistry News, as well as being Chair of the Irish External Quality Assessment Scheme (IEQAS).

Peadar’s special interests are in education, fluid biochemistry, tumour markers, EQA, and history of laboratory medicine. He served as Regional Tutor for the Republic of Ireland Region for 13 years and currently lectures to the MSc in Clinical Biochemistry in University College, Dublin as well as contributing to the ACBI FRCPath tutorial group. He is an editor and co-author of the well-known ACBI guidelines on tumour markers and on biochemistry of atypical fluids. His current projects include updating the guideline booklets and writing a biography of Prof. Edmond McWeeney, who in 1891 was the first whole-time Professor of Pathology appointed in Ireland.

Away from Clinical Biochemistry Peadar is an enthusiastic participant in athletics and competes in a wide variety of track and field events.

Claire McHenry

Dr McHenry is a consultant in the Regional Centre for Endocrinology and Diabetes, Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. Her interests are in pituitary disease and endocrine genetics, leading in services to ensure screening and surveillance of affected families particularly MEN1 and SDH mutations.

Melissa McNaughton

Melissa McNaughton is a principal clinical biochemist working at Glasgow Royal Infirmary. Melissa trained in NHS Lothian, Edinburgh before moving to NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. Melissa is the current meeting secretary for ACB Scotland. Before this she served as the ACB trainee representative for East of Scotland.

Stuart McPherson

Dr Stuart McPherson is a Consultant Hepatologist and Clinical Lead of the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Liver Unit. Stuart’s major clinical interests include fatty liver disease, viral hepatitis and cirrhosis. He is research active, particularly evaluating the efficacy of liver fibrosis biomarkers.  He is the former Senior Secretary of the British Society of Gastroenterology (2017-21).

Phillip Monaghan

After graduating from the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST) in Biochemistry with Applied Molecular Biology, Phillip went on to complete a PhD in Molecular Enzymology at the University of Leicester.  He subsequently commenced training in Clinical Biochemistry at Wirral University Teaching Hospital, Alder Hey Hospital and University Hospital of South Manchester.  Phillip has been a Clinical Scientist at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust and more recently The Christie Pathology Partnership in Manchester, UK, for the past 13 years, and is Clinical Director of Pathology.  Phillip is Honorary Lecturer at the University of Manchester, Cancer Sciences Division within the School of Medical Sciences, lecturing on the MSc Clinical Sciences programme and the Advanced Therapeutics Medicinal Products programme.  Phillip is a member of the UK NEQAS Steering Committee for Immunochemistry, and previous Chair of the NQAAP for Chemical Pathology.  Phillip is Chair of the European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EFLM) Working Group for Test Evaluation (WG-TE) and is joint Editor-in-Chief for the Annals of Clinical Biochemistry. 

Special research interests include evidence-based laboratory medicine (test evaluation), biochemical endocrinology, and translational biomarker development. Phillip is Co-Investigator on the VALTIVE clinical trials programme for the validation of a novel vascular response biomarker to guide VEGFi therapy in ovarian cancer.  Phillip is Co-Investigator on the RATinG trial for the evaluation of novel acute GvHD biomarkers.  Phillip was awarded the Silver Research Medal from the Royal College of Pathologists in 2012 for his work on serum cortisol measurement in Cushing’s disease. 

Kat Mordue

Before undertaking training to become a Clinical Scientist, I undertook a PhD at the University of Bristol working on the ex vivo culture of red blood cells and membrane protein macrocomplex assembly during erythropoiesis. I completed the Scientist Training Programme (STP) at University Hospitals Plymouth (UHP) in 2019 and was appointed as a senior clinical scientist in Haematology at UHP.

Joanne Morris

Joanne is a Consultant Clinical Scientist in Biochemistry with a specialist interest in protein analysis.  She studied Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Manchester University, before beginning her training as a Clinical Scientist in Biochemistry in south London in 1995 gaining an MSc in Clinical Biochemistry and later FRCPath. Her training included time with Dr Joanna Sheldon at the Protein Reference Unit at St George’s Hospital and with Dr Bruce Muller at Charing Cross Hospital, where her interest in protein analysis began. Joanne was the Lead Clinical Scientist in the Proteins Laboratory at the Royal Free Hospital, she has also worked at Epsom and St Helier Hospital in Special Chemistry. She has been a consultant scientist since 2013 and joined South West London Pathology in the Protein reference Unit in February 2020. She particular interest in the clinical utility of serum free light chains and specialist protein analysis.

Anthea Patterson

After completing my Ph.D I took up a clinical scientist training post at the LGI in Leeds.  I stayed in the city for my first job, moving the few miles across to St James, where I spent a further twelve happy and productive years in Biochemical Genetics, principally overseeing the Newborn screening service. In 2011 my next move was south and west, to a consultant post at the Royal Cornwall Hospital. I am specialty lead for Clinical Chemistry and the clinical lead for POCT.  With only one acute hospital, Cornwall affords unique opportunities to get involved in the patient journey and really make a difference. I am particularly interested in innovative changes to patient pathways with the use of POCT equipment, test optimization and clinical support technology.

Helen Phelan

No bio provided

Bethan Phillips

Following a placement with the Point of Care team during her STP training, Bethan has continued to develop her expertise within Berkshire and Surrey Pathology Services, Point of Care and Rapid Respiratory Testing Service, since 2021. Taking advantage of the unique multi-disciplinary opportunities offered, Bethan’s focus is on POCT device analytical and clinical performance - leading on the verification of devices, monitoring ongoing result quality, and ensuring user-friendly reporting of results into electronic patient records.

Isabelle Piec

Isabelle obtained her PhD from the University of Auvergne (France) investigating the proteomics of skeletal muscle healthy aging. She joined the University of East Anglia School of Biological Sciences in 2007 and moved to the Medical School, BioAnalytical Facility, in 2013. She has over 20 years’ experience in musculoskeletal research encompassing muscle ageing and regeneration and metabolic bone diseases. In her current role, she combines research and laboratory management. Her research focuses on the metabolic processes that underpin bone diseases with a specific interest in the Wnt/b-catenin signalling pathway (OPG/sRANKL/Sclerostin/FGF23). She specialises in molecular biology and biochemistry and has a keen interest in quality assurance and assay development, evaluation and harmonisation.

Alex Read

Alexander Read is a Senior Clinical Scientist in Biochemistry at North West London Pathology primarily based within the SAS Endocrine and Renin/Aldosterone labs in Charing Cross Hospital, and has worked in Clinical Biochemistry since 2014. In addition he is an Education lead for Biochemistry at Imperial College Healthcare Trust and the current meetings secretary for the ACB Southern Region.

Fiona Riddoch

Now specialising in point of care testing (POCT), Fiona trained as a Clinical Scientist in Biochemistry and has worked in NHS laboratory services in London and the Southeast for 18 years. Currently employed as a Principal Clinical Scientist for POCT in Berkshire and Surrey Pathology Services (BSPS); the service covers 5 NHS Trusts, with 6 acute medical sites, and multiple community services. Over the last 4 years she has developed multidisciplinary clinical and technical expertise needed for point of care testing, and in IT for POCT, adding to her advanced knowledge of endocrine biochemistry, quality and audit. She has led the BSPS POCT team on national verification projects, including multiple SARS-CoV-2 and winter multiplex methods on behalf of NHS England, being an exemplary verification and implementation site for POCT in Hospital@Home services, and working to provide evidence that can be used nationally to support implementation of POCT high-sensitivity troponin. She has won national awards for quality improvement projects and clinical audit, by demonstrating clinical impact and patient benefit of pathology services.

Joanne Rogers

Joanne Rogers is a Consultant Clinical Scientist based at Cardiff Toxicology Laboratory, University Hospital of LLandough, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board. She trained as a Clinical Scientist in Biochemistry, becoming a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists 2010. Having always had an interest in specialist services and analytical techniques, she began specialising first in Trace Elements and then Toxicology, completing a Post graduate Diploma in Medical Toxicology, Cardiff University in 2012. Joanne then went on to gain a Consultant Clinical Scientist position then head of the Clinical Toxicology Laboratory and Trace Element Service in 2017. The focus of the Toxicology laboratory is to provide a Clinical Toxicology and Therapeutic Drug Monitoring service and run the WEDINOS analytical service. Joanne is secretary for the ‘Clinical Toxicology Network UK’ and RCPath representative on the Wales National Implementation Board for Drug Poisoning and a member of the WEDINOS programme board.

Danja Schulenburg-Brand

Danja Schulenburg-Brand qualified as a Chemical Pathologist in South Africa in 2009. She was appointed as a consultant Chemical Pathologist in the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Immunology, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff in 2016. She has been managing patients with porphyria and supporting the porphyrin laboratory service since 2016. She was appointed as the clinical lead for the Cardiff Porphyria Centre (endorsed by EPNET as a Porphyria Expert Clinical Centre) in 2021, managing patients with acute and cutaneous porphyria across Wales and other parts of the United Kingdom. She is a member of the British and Irish Porphyria Network.

Karen Smith

I am a consultant clinical scientist at Glasgow Royal Infirmary heading up the specialist endocrine lab that provides a wide range of peptide and steroid analysis both locally and nationally. Throughout my career my main areas of interest have been endocrinology and oncology.

Kirsty Spence

Jennifer Spencer

No bio provided

Lauren Starbrook

I am currently a principal clinical scientist in biochemistry, within Black Country Pathology Services. I completed the STP in 2019 and am now on the HSST programme, which I am really enjoying. I have a range of interests, including mass spectrometry, training and education, and IT-driven solutions in pathology.

Rachel Still

Rachel started her career in Clinical Biochemistry as a Medical Laboratory Assistant in the WEQAS laboratory at Cardiff. In 2005 she became Consultant Clinical Scientist in Laboratory Medicine at Swansea (now Swansea Bay University Health Board), and in 2014 she became the joint All-Wales Biochemistry Standardisation Lead, together with Dr Catherine Bailey. Rachel is also the current ACB representative on the National Quality Assurance Advisory Panel for Chemical Pathology.

Jacob Stokes

No bio provided

Andrew Stone

Andy Stone is an infection pharmacist at the Northern Care Alliance NHS FT in Greater Manchester specialising in Antimicrobials. He leads a team across four hospitals in Bury, Oldham, Rochdale and Salford.

He is a member of the Greater Manchester Antimicrobial Stewardship Committee and the UKCPA Pharmacy Infection Network.

His interests include Antimicrobial Stewardship in secondary care with a focus on behavioural change and education and training.

Mark Strachan

Mark Strachan is a consultant in Endocrinology, Diabetes and Acute Medicine at the Western General Hospital, Edinburgh and Honorary Professor of the University of Edinburgh. He has a long interest of diagnostic accuracy in diabetes and runs a clinic for people with monogenic forms of diabetes. He is a former RD Lawrence lecturer of Diabetes UK.

He was Trustee and Treasurer of the British Thyroid Foundation for 13 years and is a member of the National Cancer Research Institute committee on thyroid cancer. He is Secretary of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and former President of the Scottish Society of Physicians. He is an editor of the international textbook  ‘Davidson’s Principles and Practice of Medicine’.

Khaja Syed

Khaja is a biomedical science postgraduate with over a decade of experience in the field of Biobanking & Research. Khaja was appointed as a Biobank Manager at Walton Research Tissue bank (WRTB) at The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust in 2014 and later helped in establishing the Walton CSF Research Biobank (WRCB) in 2016.

In 2020, Khaja worked towards the merging of both WRTB and WCRB biobanks into the Liverpool Neuroscience Biobank at the Walton Centre (LNBW). Khaja currently oversees day-to-day management of LNBW Biobank. Khaja also chairs the LNBW Committee and is an executive committee member at Brain Tumour North West (BTNW) Research Consortium.

Before joining The Walton Centre, Khaja previously worked at Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, Imperial College London and at the Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences (NDORMS) at the University of Oxford.

Khaja has a keen interest in the regulation of biobanking by following HTA, UKAS and REC guidance.

Sally Thirkettle

I am a Principal Clinical Biochemist and Point of Care Testing Coordinator at The Christie Pathology Partnership where I have worked since 2017.

Special interests include verification, validation, Pathology IT, Point of Care Testing and supporting the training and development of the up-coming Pathology workforce.

Lisa Vipond

Lisa has worked in Clinical Biochemistry for nearly 20 years, starting her career as a biomedical scientist, and then becoming POCT coordinator, introducing connectivity and developing POCT services beyond the standard well versed format.  After nearly 8 ½ years as a coordinator & manager Lisa moved back into the laboratory management progressing to her current role as Pathology Service Manager. POCT has remained an interest and she continues to be involved at Trust, Network, and regional levels.

She currently teaches on the certificate of expert practice in POCT for the IBMS with a small cohort of others and has a keen interest to develop POCT into the right clinical settings supported by a good governance structure.  She is keen to ensure the patient is at the heart of pathology services.

Emma Walker

No bio provided

Craig Webster

I started as a clinical scientist in Leeds in 1992 and further worked in Chelmsford, Nottingham and then Birmingham since 2004. My career path has taken in areas such capillary electrophoresis, mass spectrometry and data analysis. There has been a consistent thread of using technology, computing and data to make and improve things for services and patients. Analysing data with appropriate techniques is a fundamental skill that all scientists need and underpins future as technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Alexandra Yates

Mrs. Alexandra Yates. Director of Scientific Affairs

Alex, is a Clinical scientist in the biochemistry department at the North Midlands and Cheshire Pathology Service, where her interest include analytical interferences, renal medicine and quality improvement.

Alex was appointed as Directorof Scientific affairs in May 2019 after 5 years on the scientific committee, and a previous role as a national member on the ACB council.  As chair of the scientific and clinical practice committee, her vision is that the scientific committee should serve all ACB members across all disciplines they represent, whilst supporting the fulfillment of the wider ACB strategy, via action such as the scientific scholarships.

Other wider interests include equality and diversity with NHS organizations, Alex is passionate in enacting meaningful change leading to equity for all and recognizing the benefits this bring to the NHS and wider community.