Eimear is a Molecular Product Specialist at Randox, with expertise in applied biology and biopharmaceutical science, acquired through her BA degree. Before joining Randox, she honed her molecular skills at the National Containment Laboratory in New Zealand, where she was a member of the Bacteriology and Aquatic Diseases team. At Randox, Eimear applies her knowledge and experience to drive innovation in molecular diagnostics and QC solutions.
Senior biomedical scientist working at Imperial college healthcare NHS Trust for 20 years initially as Immunologist and later on moved to virology. Currently working as lead scientist for infection and immunity in multidisciplinary lab.
Mat is a Lecturer at Solent University and the founder of Quantum QI Coaching. Quantum QI Coaching is a professional service that helps healthcare providers and professionals improve work systems, work processes, patient outcomes, and staff wellbeing through a simplified understanding of clinical human factors and quality improvement principles. Mat also holds a PhD in Health Sciences from the University of Southampton. His doctoral studies focused on understanding the relationship between Clinical Human Factors and IPC Practices in Complex Healthcare Systems. Before pursuing a career in academia and mentoring, Mat worked in clinical practice as an Infection Prevention Charge Nurse.
An experienced senior infection prevention and control specialist, recently seconded to the New Hospital Programme as Clinical Fellow for IPC and Project Oriel for Moorfields Eye Hospital. Catherine has presented at international conferences, including the Infection Prevention Society, World Association of Eye Hospitals, Markets and Markets and the International Ophthalmic Nurses Association. Her work has involved contributions to national guidelines and policies, poster presentations at IPS and ARVO and author/co-author to several publications. Her interests include surveillance, IPC in the built environment, education, and collaborative leadership.
Adriana is Teaching coordinator in the courses Laboratory Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery (bot Italian version and English version) at Department of Medicine and Surgery, member of the Teaching Council of the PhD course in Medical and Surgical Translational Sciences, director of the post-degree medical school in Microbiology and Virology. She is Director of the Unit of Clinical Microbiology, Director in charge of the Unit of Clinical Virology, University Hospital of Parma.
Her major research activities are in bacteriology, parasitology, and virology involving the study of the biological features and of the molecular biology (including both the genome analysis and the biotype study by Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry – MALDI-TOF MS) of human intestinal spirochaetes, the interaction of intestinal spirochaetes with other bacteria and with the host, the study of leptospires, borrelias, and treponemas, and the study of mycobacteria; it was also extended to the application of MALDI-TOF MS to the Clostridioides difficile ribotyping identification and to the development of assays for the identification of enterobacteria resistant to carbapenems. In mycology, the research activity regarded the application of MALDI-TOF MS to the identification of dermatophytes. In parasitology, the research activity involved the study of human parasites (plasmodia, Toxoplasma gondii, intestinal protozoa, Leishmania). In virology, the research activity involved the study of viruses pathogenic for humans (hepatotropic viruses, viruses of the respiratory tract, viruses of the gastrointestinal tract, emerging viruses such as arbovirus and SARS-CoV-2).
Her main scientific activities in foreign institution were at the Institute for Animal Health, Compton Laboratory, Compton Berkshire (England) and at the Institute Pasteur, Paris (France). She was Associate Editor of the "Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease" journal from 2021 and member of the “Editorial board” of the journal from 2011.
Mark Furmage is a Decontamination Officer for Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board. This is one of the seven Health Boards within NHS Wales. His role is dedicated to all aspects of Decontamination within the Health Board, working within the Infection Prevention and Control Team.
Mark is a registered IHEEM Authorising Engineer Decontamination AE (D) and was registered in August 2023. Mark has worked within NHS Wales for over 30 years.
Professor Paul Verweij is head of the Medical Microbiology department, which deals with the prevention, diagnostics, and treatment of infectious diseases, especially those of patients admitted to the Radboud university medical center. Verweij is the chairman of the Nijmegen University Centre for Infectious Diseases (NUCI), a leading organization combining patient care, education, and research in the field of infectious diseases. Verweij's research focuses on the detection and treatment of fungal infections in patients with greatly reduced resistance to infections. This research has aided the improved and earlier detection of these fatal infections.
Prof. Dr. Michael Stark is specialized in Obstetrics and Gynecology. His main interest is gynecological oncology. He is the President of the New European Surgical Academy (NESA), an international inter-disciplinary surgical academy. Prof. Stark was the scientific advisor of the European novel Tele-surgical system, scientific and medical advisor of the ELSAN, a 120-hospital group in France, and is a guest scientist at the Charite’s University hospital in Berlin. In 2011, Prof. Stark was nominated as the Medico Del Anno (Doctor of the Year) in Italy and is an Honorary Member of the French, Polish, Russian, and Italian Gynecological Associations. In the years 1983-2000, he was the director of the Ob/ Gyn department of the Misgav Ladach Hospital in Jerusalem and between 2001 and 2009 the chairman of Gynecology at the HELIOS, European Hospital Group. He was visiting Professor at the Universities of Toronto, Moscow, Beijing, Milan, Adana, Uppsala, and New York.
Amita is an accomplished IPC specialist with 18 years of experience in the field working in a variety of healthcare environments including acute and specialist services. In 2015 Amita joined Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust as their Lead Infection Prevention and Control Nurse. Amita has contributed to the wider understanding of IPC in ophthalmology both regionally and nationally having participated in national policy review groups, a member of the NCL DIPC Forum since 2020 and organised the first IPC in Ophthalmology conference in 2023. Amita has a MSc in Infection Control, BSc in Health Studies, Diploma in Infection Control Nursing and Diploma in Nursing Studies. Amita is also a graduate of the Mary Seacole leadership programme and has completed the first Infection Prevention and Control NCL Fellowship programme. Her passion is to continue to work in the exciting and ever-changing speciality of infection prevention and control and share her learning and experiences further.
Sort biography: Graduated in Sri Lanka and completed the post graduate studies in medical microbiology in Sri Lanka (PG Diploma and MD), working in UK since 2014, completed FRCPath (UK) and working as a consultant since 2017 at University Hospitals of Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust. Interested in antimicrobial resistance mechanisms, infection prevention and control, medical education. Enjoy gardening, cooking and singing outside the work.
Stephen Bustin obtained his PhD in Molecular Genetics from Trinity College, University of Dublin, Ireland. He was Professor of Molecular Science at Queen Mary, University of London before moving to Anglia Ruskin University in 2012, where he is currently Professor of Molecular Medicine. His research interests centre around developing novel approaches for the early diagnosis of infectious diseases. Professor Bustin was an expert witness advising the UK High Court and the US Department of Justice on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology in the Measles Mumps Rubella (MMR) vaccine - Autism class action. He has authored numerous papers, review articles and book chapters aimed at improving the reproducibility and robustness of molecular methods, especially those based on the use of the PCR and has presented hundreds of talks and workshops worldwide on this subject. He has published three books, the “A-Z of quantitative PCR” (2004), universally known as the “qPCR Bible”,“The PCR Revolution” (2011) and “PCR Technology” (2013). He led an international consortium developing the MIQE guidelines for the use and reporting of real-time (2009) and digital PCR (2013). Professor Bustin is Editor-in Chief (Gene Expression), International Journal of Molecular Sciences and is a member of the editorial boards of several peer-reviewed journals. During the COVID-19 pandemic he published several papers highlighting the importance of correct testing for SARS-CoV-2 and developed a novel five-plex assay targeting the virus. He is currently developing a sub five-minute combined extraction, RT and PCR test for point-of-care diagnosis. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology (FRSB) and a Member of the Academia Europaea (MAE).
Mr. Egan has been engaged in private investment business from February 1999 to the present. He was a senior executive at Data Broadcasting Corporation, a leading provider of wireless, real-time financial market data from 1995 to 1999 after co-founding and serving as CEO and Chairman of the Board of Broadcast International, Inc. from 1984 to 1995, when Data Broadcasting Corporation acquired Broadcast International and created CBS MarketWatch. Mr. Egan is a co-founder of Co-Dx and its President and CEO since its inception, actively involved in the day-to-day operations and guiding the vision for the company and its future.
Ahmed is currently a Consultant Obstetrician Gynaecologist at University Hospital Derby & Burton with special interest in Endometriosis and advanced minimal access surgery. He Completed his Obstetrics Gynaecology training in UK in the South West Deanery. He has been awarded an academic clinical fellowship of urogynaecology at university of Plymouth. Then, Ahmed Completed a fellowship program in “Advanced Laparoscopic surgery for Benign Gynecological Disorders” at Cornwall Endometriosis Centre. He is a certified coloscopist and trainer at BSCCP.Currently Ahmed is the lead for reproductive medicine health block and OSCE examiner for year 4 medical student at Leicester university at QHB. He authored and published various clinical articles in peer reviewed journals. Also, Ahmed is an active member of various professional Obstetrics Gynecology organisations.
Tony is a clinical lead for Endometriosis, outpatient hysteroscopic sterilisation and the Regional Preceptor for advanced Hysteroscopic Surgery as well as the Head of Department. Appointed as a substantive full-time consultant in gynaecological surgery in 2011, Tony is a core member of the cancer and colposcopy teams, deputy lead for gynaecological cancer for Newcastle Hospitals and lead for endometriosis. His interests are establishing outpatient sterilisation - a minor procedure that is very well tolerated by women attending the clinic. Tony is a principal Investigator for portfolio research studies such as Quality of Life research into treatments for Heavy Menstrual Bleeding. He is a course director for advanced laparoscopic and hysteroscopic surgery attracting delegates from all over the world. He is aldo a member of: Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (RCOG); British and European Societies of Gynaecological Endoscopy (BSGE/ESGE); Society of European Robotic Gynaecological Surgeons (SERGS); British Society of Colposcopy (BSCCP); Faculty of Family Planning and Reproductive Health (DFFP).
Nithya graduated in Medicine at the Queen’s University of Belfast in 2003. She has an Honours degree in Biochemistry and a Masters in Clinical Research from Newcastle University. Nithya is a Consultant in the Northern Gynaecological Oncology Centre at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead. She believes in affording patients the time to have their concerns heard and to be able to provide holistic care. Nithya is a Council member of the British Gynaecological Cancer Society, and her interests lie in innovation and service development, to improve patient outcomes and experiences. She specialises in minimal access surgery, complex vulva disorders, and colposcopy.
Miss Aruna Ramineni is a highly experienced gynaecologist with a special interest in the management of couples with fertility problems. Miss Ramineni provides expert care and attention on a range of issues including menstrual disorders, polycystic ovaries (PCOS), recurrent miscarriage, post-menopausal problems and infertility. She is highly rated by patients for her excellent bedside manner, supportiveness, and professional skills.
Dr Jennifer Heaney is a Researcher within the Clinical Immunology Service in the Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy. Jennifer’s main theme of research is immunoassay development for clinical applications, focusing on multiple myeloma, measurement of immunocompetence, and non-invasive testing. She collaborates with industry partners to develop and validate novel immunoassays. She has received funding from Cancer Research UK, the MRC and NIHR.
Dr Jennifer Heaney, Research Fellow, Clinical Immunology Service, Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham.
Jennifer specialises in the development and validation of immunodiagnostic tests for a range of clinical applications.
After graduating from medical school Dr Awad-El-Kariem completed MSc and PhD degrees at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and was then employed there as a post-doc to study molecular typing of Cryptosporidium. He was then offered the prestigious Wellcome Research Career Development Fellowship in 1995 to study opportunistic infections in AIDS patients at Imperial College, London. He later accepted a post as a Consultant Microbiologist in 2006, with special interest in Infection Prevention and Control. He is currently the Director of Infection Prevention and Control (DIPC) in a large teaching hospital just outside London. His research interests include drug resistance in protozoan parasites, population genetics in medical protozoa, antibiotic multi-drug resistance in Gram Negative Bacteria and Molecular diagnostics of Clostridioides difficile.
Obaro Abadioru has a B.Sc. (Hons.) degree in Microbiology (1995), a PG Cert. in Pharmaceutical Technology and Quality Assurance (2007), and a Level 5 Diploma in CMI Leadership and Management (2012. He has worked in the brewery industry in the quality control department and became a shift lead in charge of entire productions between 1997 and 2000. Also, he worked in the pharmaceutical industry in quality control, quality assurance, sterility testing, and machinery validation between 2001 and 2003. He managed the microbiology section of an NHS pharmacy production between 2004 and 2007 and the sterile services and endoscopy in various NHS trusts in London between 2007 and 2022.
Joanna Chapman is an infection prevention and control clinical nurse specialist working in an acute NHS Trust. She has a MSc in Infection Prevention and Control which has been invaluable in fuelling my passion for education within IPC. She is a member of the Education and Professional Development Committee of the Infection Prevention Society and also a co-founder of the Twinning at IPC podcast.
Helen comes from a procurement background and has held roles at NHS PASA in pharmaceutical purchasing and childhood vaccines, as well as pharmacy and diagnostics procurement for Surrey and Sussex Confederation, and National Contracts Manager for laboratory goods at NHSBT.
Helen worked for 11 years in a number of roles across UK and Europe at Abbott, leading supplier management and contract provision for managed services.
She is a member of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply, has an MSC in Strategic Procurement from the University of Glamorgan Business School, and an LLM in Public Procurement Law and Policy from the University of Nottingham, School of Law.
Tracey Scott has extensive experience in the field of decontamination services having started her role as a CSSD technician in May of 2001, she was promoted to senior CSSD technician and studied decontamination to become the manager of the CSSD in Mount Carmel Hospital, CDU Manager at St Vincent’s Private Hospital, she moved to the role of Decontamination Business Development Manager from 2016-2019 to work with Zehnacker Healthcare Ireland.
Tracey has been the CSSD manager in the Dublin Dental University Hospital and manages the LDU’s within the Irish Prison Services since starting in 2019.
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Tracey currently holds the position of Chairperson of the Irish Decontamination Institute.
An experienced Infection Prevention & Control Nurse Specialist and Neuro HDU nurse with progressive experience in clinical nursing, management, auditing, infection control, clinical data analysis, clinical review, and clinical data abstraction and reporting to regulatory, licensure, and surveillance agencies. I have done BSc Nursing and Diploma in Infection Control Nursing from India. Currently pursuing Masters in Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) from University of West London. I have been Biology lecturer in India and a total of 8 years of clinical experience in Neuro HDU and 3 and half years of experience in IPC (both India and UK). Currently, working in Kings College Hospital as IPC Clinical Nurse Specialist I have achieved a number of accolades. In particular, Royal College of Nursing London’s Rising Star Award, 2022; British Journal of Nursing Bronze Award, 2022 and recently IPS Silver Impact Award for the IPC team, Kings College Hospital.
Stuart is a Biomedical Scientist and Molecular Laboratory Manager at Ipswich Hospital, East Suffolk North Essex Foundation Trust (ESNEFT). He has an MSc in Virology and has worked within NHS diagnostic virology laboratories since 2002. He joined ESNEFT in 2021 to develop the molecular diagnostic service for the Trust and guest lecturers at the University of Essex on their BSc Biomedical Science course.
Mark has been working in Health Care for over twenty years, starting as an Operating Department Practitioner in theatres, then progressed into theatre management and for the last 12 years has been an active Decontamination Manager at both Operational and Commissioning levels for Cardiff and Vale University Health Board.
Mark is very active in continual improvement of Decontamination processes both locally and nationally, representing on the All Wales Assembly Government Decontamination Committee and participating in reviewing and updating National Guidance for Department of Health.
Mark is currently researching the effects of different types of chemistries on protein / soil residues, the effects of ultrasonic activity on difficult to remove protein / soils, investigating biofilm issues within endoscope channels and also systems for keeping soiled instruments moist prior to reprocessing.
Christopher Peters went to medical school in Leeds and after completing basic surgical training moved to Cambridge to carry out a PhD with Professor Rebecca Fitzgerald. During his PhD he developed a four gene signature to predict outcome in oesophageal adenocarcinoma which was validated in 371 independent cases. He also set up the OCCAMS collaboration which went on to be selected to run the International Cancer Genome Consortium's Whole Genome sequencing project in oesophageal adenocarcinoma. OCCAMS has now recruited in excess of 4000 patients and resulted in over 35 publications including in Nature (2 papers), Nature Genetics (4 papers) and Nature Communications (4 papers).
After moving to London to complete his higher surgical training he was appointed as a Clinical Senior Lecturer and Consultant Upper GI surgeon at Imperial College London with a specialist interest in transitioning new technologies to the patient. As the Biomarker lead for the NIHR London IVD Co-operative he has a programme built around trying to better understand which Biomarkers are likely to achieve clinical adoption- aiming to bridge the gap between the millions spent on Biomarker discovery and validation and the handful that achieve clinical success.
Jincy Jerry is the Assistant Director of Nursing in Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) at the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. She has expertise in clinical disinfection, decontamination, surgical site Infection, surveillance, outbreak management, and healthcare ventilation. Jincy was awarded the “Hospital Manager of the Year 2020” by Irish Healthcare Awards for her outstanding leadership and inspirational vision. The HSE Spark Innovation Program, Ireland, presented her with the Bright Spark Award in 2022. Jincy is a pioneer in the application of robotic process automation (RPA) in clinical settings in Irish healthcare. She has received three Innovation Academy Awards at the 6th and 7th International Conference on Prevention and Infection Control (2021 and 2023), held in Geneva.. Out of more than 52,000 candidates from around the world, Jincy was chosen as a Top 10 Finalist for the Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award in 2023.
Lesley McKay has been a Registered Nurse for over 30 years and is currently employed as Associate Chief Nurse in Infection Prevention & Control. Lesley previously worked in general surgical and intensive care nursing, before moving into infection prevention and control in 1998. As if the challenge of leading the Trust’s IPC response to the global Covid-19 pandemic wasn’t enough, from 2020 to 2023 Lesley successfully completed an MBA programme of study. Always ready to take on a challenge, Lesley’s latest personal ambitions are to complete the 214 Wainright walks and to teach herself to play the ukelele.
Ursula Morby is the ADON Group Decontamination Lead at UL Hospital Limerick, covering one model 4 hospital and four model 2 hospitals. Ursula started her career at Barnet & Edgware hospital as a staff nurse. Ursula has worked across various departments in hospitals in both the UK and Ireland as a senior staff nurse. During her time at Nuffield Health Chandlers Ford Hospital, Ursula designed, commissioned, and managed a new endoscopy unit. Over the last 20 years Ursula has focused her career in becoming an expert in hospital decontamination and has recently completed a BSc in Nurse Manager as well as a MSc in Advanced Leadership with the RCSI.
Tom completed a PhD with Prof. Margaret Frame at IGMM in Edinburgh, followed by a post-doctoral fellowship with Prof Sergio Quezada at UCL Cancer Institute. Tom’s work has focused on multiplex immune fluorescence and pathology-based imaging with AI and spatial modelling techniques, to interrogate the tumour immune response and wider tumour microenvironment. This has carried him to The Royal Marsden and the ICR, where today he is the scientific lead of the Integrated Pathology Unit (IPU). His current research focuses on development of AI and tissue hybridisation imaging modalities at large scale, for meaningful clinical interpretation. His tissue agonistic approaches within the IPU have led to research in 50+ different disease contexts, including paediatric neuroblastoma, TNBC, NSCLC, bladder, prostate, colorectal and oesophageal cancers.
After starting his IT career in the corporate world Kieran has focussed on transforming healthcare with new technologies and improving the patient journey through integration and paperless working, now onto a network level. Previously as a Genomics IT lead and now as a Pathology IT Lead for a large tertiary referral hospital which sits within one of the largest Pathology networks and Genomics hubs in England, this drive for improvement brings together systems like never before, with Kieran actively involved in their development, implementation and day to day working.
Peter Obami is currently employed at Barking, Havering, and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS FT since December 2023, holding the title of Biomedical scientist - Cellular pathology. prior to this, He also held the position of Biomedical scientist at the University Hospital Southampton NHS FT. Peter held the position of Lead Medical laboratory scientist, while working at Decure medical laboratory and diagnostics services limited, Abuja Nigeria. Peter held this dynamic role for 6 months. He also worked as a medical laboratory scientist at Kubwa General Hospital Abuja, Nigeria. Peter completed a Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science (BMLS) degree from Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma Nigeria, and a Masters degree with distinction in public health from the Prestigious University of Sunderland in London United Kingdom.
Mr T James Royle has practised as an attending general and colorectal surgeon at South Tyneside and Sunderland Hospitals NHS UK since 2015. He graduated from University of Birmingham Medical school and completed his surgical training in West Midlands developing his interest in teaching and training, completing a master’s in medical education. He was a founder member of the West Midlands Research Collaborative, for designing and implementing trainee-led multicentre clinical studies. Mr Royle was awarded an ACPGBI travelling fellowship in robotic surgery in Hong Kong (2013) and was a national Ethicon laparoscopic fellow in Newcastle in 2014. His surgical expertise is in minimally invasive surgery, complex hernia including abdominal wall reconstruction and laparoscopic techniques. A regular faculty member for advanced laparoscopic colorectal training courses, he is a robotic trainer for the Sunderland Da Vinci ACPGBI robotic fellowship programme.
Jeribelle (Belle) Barcelona is currently working as an IPC Clinical Nurse Specialist. She is a registered adult nurse with previous experiences in Emergency Medicine, Primary and Occupational Health and Trauma and Orthopaedics before starting her career in Infection Prevention and Control. She is currently completing her Master’s Degree in International Health Major in Health Systems and Development. She is keen in education and training of healthcare workers on infection prevention and control and assisting and facilitating projects related to this.
Prof. Craig Williams currently works at University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay but has 35 years of experience in a number of NHS diagnostic laboratories. His research interests include complex biofilm infections on mucosal surfaces, biofilm attachment to surfaces, bacterial fungal interactions and novel diagnostic methods for infectious disease.
