In this premiere episode of Life in the Lab, Consultant Clinical Scientist Katy Heaney takes us behind the scenes of the UK’s COVID-19 response—from childhood dreams with a toy syringe to leading national strategies for rapid testing. Katy shares her journey into pathology, the challenges of pioneering Point of Care Testing, and what it really means to lead through crisis. Inspiring, personal, and full of hard-won insights, this is a must-listen for anyone curious about the hidden world of healthcare science.