IBMS Podcast

In Episode 19, we chat to the retired biomedical scientist in Cytology and former IBMS executive Head of Membership and Council Member Hedley Glencross. Recorded at IBMS Congress 2022, Hedley takes us through the highlights of his 45-year career in the profession, focusing on the importance of the specialism of Cytology and work with IBMS. This includes projects to modernise cervical cancer diagnosis in Moldova and to design our logo.

In Episode 18, we speak to the winner of the Advancing Healthcare Awards Biomedical Scientist of the Year and Overall Winner Bamidele Farinre. In a wide-ranging conversation, Bami talks about her background and route into Biomedical Science, her award-winning work to set up mobile laboratories to speed up COVID-19 testing in the midst of the pandemic and more!

In LabLife, we spoke to the winner of the gold award for Biological & Biomedical Sciences at the STEM for Britain Awards 2022, Miquel Serna-Pascual. He discusses his pioneering work to help speed up the diagnosing of disease by collecting and analysing data about the way a person breaths and how winning this accolade has helped progress his research project and career.

In Episode 17, we are joined by expert in Medical Microbiology and Bacteria Zoonoses at the University of East London, Professor Sally Cutler, who discusses the pandemic and the most recent strains of COVID-19; future testing strategies and other emerging viral threats.

In LabLife, Malcolm Robinson, founder of Harvey’s Gang, a charity providing young patients with opportunities to tour laboratories and meet the Biomedical Scientists who process their samples. He speaks to us about the history of the charity and his hopes for its future.

In Episode 16, IBMS chief executive David Wells joined us for a wide-ranging conversation covering his work establishing the '29 pathology networks and leading the laboratory response during the pandemic as Head of Pathology at NHS England, to promoting the profession as chief executive. We also talked about his career journey from practice to senior management.

Later, Dr Martin Khechara spoke to Lorna Cleverly, Head of Animal Health Monitoring at Fera Science, for a fascinating LabLife.

In Episode 15, we are joined by Digital Pathology expert Professor Darren Treanor to explore this field at the forefront of healthcare. Darren discussed how digital pathological applications, such as virtual microscopy, have made it easier for scientists to share data and improved diagnostics. Later, he talked about the National Pathology Imaging Co-operative (NPIC) - a new project which aims to deploy Artificial intelligence across the NHS in order to transform screening and diagnostics beyond the limits of current practice.

In LabLife, we were joined by IBMS Fellow and intrepid traveller Sue Alexander to talk about her travel adventures from Antarctica to The Galapagos.

In our special festive episode of IBMS pod, we were joined by Yan Tsou - Quality control scientist at the Francis Crick Institute and Great British Bakeoff star. Yan told us about her work on cell lines in the Crick's cell services team, her research into latent TB and her journey on the Great British Bakeoff Series 8, before she took part in our Christmas baking quiz: 'What's on your plate?'.

Following this, Reverend Christopher J Lee, a former biomedical scientist in Haematology and ordained Anglican priest in the Church of Wales joined us for a special edition of LabLife.

In Episode 13, we heard the fascinating career story of Biomedical Scientist in Haematology turned famous comic and actor Dave Spikey.

Dave is best known for his stand-up comedy tours, starring in sitcom Phoenix Nights alongside Peter Kay and Paddy McGuinness, presenting Bullseye, Chain Letters and being a team captain on 8 out of 10 Cats.

Before he moved over to comedy, Dave led a successful 30-year career in Biomedical Science – rising the ranks to become Chief Biomedical Scientist in Haematology at The Royal Bolton Hospital.

Dave recollects his journey into Biomedical Science from school pupil to trainee medical laboratory technician to senior biomedical scientist. He discussed the various roles he held and the innovations in the field he brought about.

We then challenged Dave, who is a former Mastermind champion to our very own Haematology quiz. He then took us through his move from Biomedical Science into comedy, writing, film production and television - from a local hospital pantomime performance to a national stand-up tour, starring in iconic sitcoms and hosting television game shows.

In the Quick-Fire round, Dave shared his most funny memory from his days back in the lab!

Then in LabLife, Dr Martin Khechara is joined by Andrologist Sheryl Homa, who discussed the importance of this marginalised, but vital specialism. She also tells us about her recent appearance on a BBC documentary with comedian Rhod Gilbert.

Episode 12 marks one year of the IBMS Pod. We were joined by expert in Genomic Medicine Deborah Lakeland. In LabLife, our guest was trainee in critical care science Charlotte Felton.

As we enter a new era of personalised medicine, how can biomedical scientists integrate the necessary genomic tests into their services?

Genomic medicine uses information about a patient’s genetic makeup to improve their care and overall clinical outcome across a range of diseases. As the NHS implements genomics into the NHS, we’ll enter a new paradigm of cutting-edge diagnostics which will see new personalised treatments tailored to the individual patient routinely available.

Deborah Lakeland is a cancer genomics project manager at Lancashire & South Cumbria teaching. Hospitals. Deborah has over 30 years of experience as a biomedical scientist across several specialities including Immunology, Haematology and Molecular Pathology . She moved over to genomics to assist the 100,000 genome project.

Deborah takes us through what progress has been made so far in the field of genomic medicine, including the government’s 100,000 genome project and her role within it. She then discusses how genomic medicine has transformed therapeutics for cancer patients before outlining the major challenges biomedical scientists face in order to fully integrate genomics medicine into their practice. Later, Deborah is asked to outline how large scale testing of coronavirus patient genomes helped us to identify variant strains of SARS-CoV2 and ultimately helped us bring the pandemic under control.

We also discussed Deborah’s outreach and media work including being recognised as a Chief Scientific Officer Women in Science and Engineering Fellow for 2019/2020.

In the Quick-Fire round, Rob is curious if Deborah prefers tea over coffee, casual wear over smart wear and ab-sailing over bungee jumping!

IBMS Licentiate Charlotte Felton is a trainee clinical scientist in critical care science. Charlotte Felton explained why she felt it was so important to participate in the public engagement of biomedical science, and the initiatives she’s set-up to promote the profession and teach younger generations about careers in Biomedical science including the popular ‘inspire BMS’ Twitter account.

She also tells us about why she is transitioning from a band 5 role in haematology to a new role in critical care science and what the role encompasses.

As Covid restrictions are lifted and services return to normal, we're revisiting the issue of workplace pressure, mental health and wellbeing across healthcare laboratories.

In September's episode, IBMS fellow and Specialist Scientific Lead in clinical chemistry Azuma Kalu joined us. The pandemic has increased the burden on pathology services to the detriment of some of our member's mental health and wellbeing, inspiring Azuma to take the lead in highlighting the topic across the profession.

Azuma discussed how the pandemic has changed the nature of the workplace and reminds us of the issues biomedical scientists, healthcare and support staff have faced during the pandemic. He then talked us through the progress we've made in recent months to improve our members' mental health and overall quality of working lives. In doing so, he emphasised the benefits senior staff will reap when returning to the workplace for both them and more junior team members.

Azuma also talks to us about how his PhD in cancer genomics could lead to a test for the recurrence of prostate cancer for those in remission.

This month's LabLife explores the issues Biomedical Science students have faced throughout the pandemic. Special guest host Martin Khechara interviews IBMS eStudent Steven Schnabel. He's been on placement in an NHS laboratory throughout the pandemic while also conducting public engagement on behalf of the profession. He takes us through his personal experience and the challenges students have faced and provides some tips to students returning to campus and face-to-face learning in the new academic year.

Martin Khechara is an IBMS fellow and senior lecturer in Microbiology at Wolverhampton University and associate professor for public engagement. He recently completed the British Media Associations's media placement with the Naked Scientists podcast.

IBMSpod Episode 10 – Sustainability in the lab with Martin Farley and Sheri Scott

With COP26 in Glasgow only a few months away, it’s increasingly important to address sustainability and environmental impacts of our laboratories.

In August’s episode Sustainability Labs Advisor for UCL and King’s, Martin Farley talks to us about sustainability in the lab and the work he has done setting up LEAF (Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework) to help prioritise environmentally conscious laboratory procedures. Martin was the UK's (and Europe’s) first full-time sustainable laboratory specialist and was awarded the Green Gown in 2015 from the Sustainability Exchange.

Martin discusses how sustainable lab practices are good for both science and cost saving and shares some top tips for making the lab more eco-friendly.

In August’s LabLife, we caught up with IBMS Fellow Sheri Scott, a biochemist & senior lecturer in biomedical science at Nottingham Trent University. Sheri talked through the sustainability issues biomedical scientists are facing and what actions they can take to reduce their impact on the climate and environment. Sheri also talks about the benefits of becoming a verifier and assessor for IBMS qualifications.

Shownotes to follow.