President’s welcome
Joanna Andrew
IBMS President 2023-25
It has been a privilege to serve as IBMS President over the last two years (2024–25). When I attended my first Congress in the late 1990s, I could never have imagined that one day I would hold this role or have the honour of delivering the Albert Norman Address. Seeing Congress 2025 become our biggest yet was a real highlight of my presidency.
I wanted to be president because I care deeply about raising the visibility of biomedical science and the members who make this profession what it is. Biomedical scientists are involved in almost every patient pathway, yet too often their contribution is not fully recognised or understood. I have used my time as president to help change that.
In 2025, I was proud to represent the IBMS internationally and share how the UK is leading the way in advanced practice. I presented at a Nordic conference in Iceland and represented the IBMS at the European Association of Biomedical Scientists annual meetings in Rotterdam and Vienna. I spoke about how IBMS advanced practice qualifications have developed over the past 20 years, enabling biomedical scientists to work at consultant level and make an even greater contribution to patient care.
Raising the profile of biomedical science
A key part of my presidency has been championing biomedical science and helping more people understand the profession’s contribution to patient care. This included visiting the laboratory at Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford with MP Lauren Sullivan to showcase the vital work taking place in our laboratories every day.
Lauren will also host our 10th Biomedical Science Day in June 2026 at a reception at the House of Commons to celebrate the contribution of biomedical scientists to healthcare across the UK and continue important conversations about the future of the profession.
One of the greatest pleasures of the role has been meeting members at regional and branch events across the UK. Wherever I have been, many of the same issues have come up, from training and recruitment to workforce pressures and professional recognition. These conversations have reminded me how much knowledge, commitment and good practice exists across our membership.
Looking forward
As I look ahead, I hope to see the IBMS continue to go from strength to strength as the leading professional body for biomedical science.
In 2026, I will continue to support the Institute as Past President and will work with Sarah Pitt as she begins her presidency. Sarah is passionate about biomedical science and committed to the profession, and I am delighted to be handing over to someone who will bring such energy and dedication to the role.
I would like to thank IBMS Chief Executive David Wells and all the staff at the IBMS who have supported me throughout my presidency.
Most of all, thank you to our members for everything you do for biomedical science and for patients. I would encourage every member to take every opportunity to get involved with the IBMS.
You never know where it might lead.
Joanna Andrew
IBMS President 2023-25
Watch Joanna talk about the highlights of her tenure
I'm a member of the IBMS because I value our cohesive voice as a scientific profession. There is no other profession that has such a unified voice across all spectra of pathology. It's a voice that has gained significant amplification post COVID-19.
I know how hard the executive team engages with national bodies and lobbies to ensure that pathology provision is to the highest possible standard for every patient across the UK. I truly believe that we are only strong and able to do this if we – biomedical scientists – sign up to become members and support the organisation through our membership fees.
CEO’s summary
David Wells
Chief Executive
Congress was one of the defining moments of 2025, bringing the profession together to share knowledge, discuss the future of biomedical science and celebrate the work taking place across our profession. Strong feedback from delegates and suppliers highlighted the value of creating spaces where biomedical scientists can connect, learn and be heard.
Congress also saw the launch of the IBMS Learning Lab van: a mobile hub of interactive resources and activities designed to showcase the vital role of biomedical science. The Learning Lab is part of our commitment to inspire the next generation of biomedical scientists and help the public better understand the profession. It will visit communities, schools and events across the UK throughout 2026.
Harvey Bear also made his first appearance at Congress, helping us highlight Harvey’s Lab Tours and the difference they make to families. These tours give children, young people and their families a better understanding of what happens in laboratories, while connecting them with the biomedical science community in a positive and memorable way.
Maintaining the voice of the profession
One of the biggest challenges in 2025 was making sure pathology remained firmly on the agenda. With the UK government dissolving NHS England and bringing the NHS more directly under the Department of Health and Social Care, the health system is entering a period of significant change. At times like this, it is vital that biomedical scientists are not allowed to become an invisible workforce.
Since the pandemic, we have worked hard to strengthen the profession’s voice. In 2025, this included contributing to the 10 Year Health Plan for England through formal responses, policy briefings and discussions with ministers, parliamentarians and officials. It was encouraging to see pathology’s essential role recognised within the plan’s wider vision for transforming health and care.
We also know the pressures facing members and laboratories. Financial constraints across the NHS continue to affect workforce numbers and access to training. We will continue to make the case for investment in biomedical science because safe, effective and modern healthcare depends on properly supported pathology services and the people who deliver them.
Supporting our members
In 2025, we developed new qualifications to help members respond to the evolving nature of pathology, including the Point-of-Care Testing Specialist Portfolio. We also modernised our IT systems to make sure the IBMS is fit for the future and able to support members more effectively.
The IBMS exists to support and represent its members, and your views help shape the work we do. In 2026, we will be running a member survey, and I encourage as many members as possible to take part.
David Wells
Chief Executive
Gayle Johnson discusses her work organising Harvey's Lab Tours at Dumfries & Galloway Royal Infirmary
Helping our members
In this section, we report back on our strategic aims so you can see the difference we made in 2025, based on what we said we’d do. Our impact is focused on supporting, promoting and progressing members. Here are some of our achievements from 2025.
Part one
Build upon our experience and expertise
Aim 1
Support more access to the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration through better uptake of entry routes to become a biomedical scientist. Provide greater clarity of the routes to entry and encourage more students to choose the most efficient route to Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration. Champion the role of trainers and training officers in the laboratory.
-
We launched a new website in 2025 with an IBMS Accredited university courses directory. Completing an IBMS Accredited BSc (Hons) degree ensures candidates meet the academic requirements to become registered biomedical scientists with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
By using the directory, people can find out which universities offer an IBMS Accredited degree and make informed decisions about their careers.
Aim 2
Aim 2
Progress our current members’ knowledge, experience and their careers through better and more relevant training and qualifications, using our existing structures but allowing a more agile application. Create a more inclusive approach to support greater diversity, championing our members’ values such as sustainability and clear professional standards.
-
Our mentoring scheme grew, with 184 members now registered as mentors and 545 as mentees. The number of mentors increased by nearly 6% in 2025 compared to 2024 and mentees increased by over 13%.
The mentoring involves an experienced member of the IBMS (mentor) providing consistent guidance and practical help to a less experienced member (mentee). This is supporting members to develop their careers in biomedical science.
I found the session with my mentor to be incredibly informative and helpful in clarifying the different routes available towards achieving biomedical scientist equivalence. My mentor provided very useful resources. I especially appreciated the practical advice around the training lab accreditation process for the IBMS. This gave me a much clearer understanding of the steps involved and potential timelines.”
Darshana Patel, IBMS member
- We processed and approved 165 training approval applications in 2025, a 7% increase from 2024. Laboratories must have training approval for biomedical scientists and laboratory support staff to complete a variety of qualifications. Training approval is required for all staff, students or apprentices to become qualified biomedical scientists.
- We have trained more verifiers to assess registration training portfolios. The number of verifiers increased to 92, a rise of 5% compared to 2024.
- There are now more trained examiners across all specialist portfolio areas. Our examiners increased to 612, a rise of 10% compared to 2024. This means more biomedical scientists can be assessed in their clinical specialism and are able to advance their careers.
- We distributed over £70,000 to support training for dissection, reporting cytology, and Higher Specialist Diploma (HSD) qualifications. This funding was part of a wider £1 million awarded by Health Education England in 2020 to fund IBMS qualifications between 2021 and 2025.
Aim 3
Promote our highest qualifications, widening the disciplines that these are available in and increasing the numbers of our members accessing them.
- A revised version of the Advanced Specialist Diploma (ASD) in Ophthalmic Pathology is supporting biomedical scientists to showcase the knowledge and skills necessary for dissecting and reporting selected ophthalmic pathology samples (tissue or fluid specimens taken from the eye and its surrounding structures).
Achieving this qualification allows members to: upgrade to become a Fellow of the IBMS; independently describe, dissect and interpret ophthalmic pathology samples; and take on consultant roles. - We launched a new specialist portfolio in Rapid On Site Evaluation (ROSE). It’s for members completing evaluations of cytological samples in ROSE clinics which offer fast analysis of samples from patients. The ROSE module is available to members working in an IBMS-approved laboratory for post-registration training.
- The number of biomedical scientists working in Point of Care Testing (POCT) is increasing. This is why we set up a POCT Specialist Advisory Panel to create a new Specialist Portfolio in POCT. This portfolio was launched in March 2025 and is supporting members to develop their skills in POCT. Training more biomedical scientists in POCT could reduce turnaround times for testing, providing faster diagnoses and treatment for patients.
Part two
Build and develop our future
Aim 1
Promote our profile post-pandemic, to develop a policy and engagement capability at government level for each of the four nations.
- We responded to key government consultations on major structural reforms, identifying opportunities to influence how changes are put into practice. This included the: proposed abolition of NHS England; reform of elective care; National Cancer Plan for England; and the Life Sciences Sector Plan, which outlines the UK government’s strategy to make the four nations an attractive place to develop and deliver new treatments.
- The UK government plans to reform the health system through The 10 Year Health Plan for England. To influence the plan, we: submitted formal responses to calls for evidence, developed policy briefings, and spoke to ministers, parliamentarians and officials. Our aim was to position biomedical science at the centre of diagnostics policy across the four nations. The plan, published in July 2025, included moving diagnostics closer to patients through “Neighbourhood Health Services”. In response, as diagnostic services expand into communities and embrace new technologies, we shared that it is vital they are delivered by a well-trained, regulated and empowered biomedical workforce.
- We strengthened the evidence base for transforming pathology services by commissioning Lord Patrick Carter to lead an independent UK-wide review. This review of pathology services will provide a clear baseline for the workforce, meaning future decisions will be grounded in robust, comparable data. We are working in partnership with other healthcare professional bodies to engage pathology services and evaluate the findings, which will be published in May 2025.
Aim 2
Progress the numbers and range of members that the IBMS attracts, within the UK and globally.
-
It’s important that the biomedical science workforce is as diverse as the population it supports to help deliver more equitable healthcare. Since 2017, the IBMS has used the Science Council Diversity and Inclusion Progression Framework to track its progress on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI).
In July 2025, the Science Council published our progress against this framework. We improved across all 10 assessed areas since the previous review. For example: -
- Education and training emerged as our highest-performing area within the framework, reflecting the strength of our inclusive approach to developing the biomedical science workforce.
- We established strong governance and commitment from leadership on EDI with a EDI Working Group and named trustee who is responsible for EDI.
- EDI is on every Council agenda and is regularly discussed at board meetings.
- We include a range of EDI topics in our membership magazine Biomedical Scientist and in regular webinars and events.
Aim 3
Support the understanding of the benefit of the profession and how biomedical science delivers to society.
- Over 4,000 delegates attended IBMS Congress 2025 which shares the benefits biomedical science offers to society. Delegates could learn from and take part in 20 lecture programmes on a variety of topics. The academic programme was a new addition to the event and was designed to bring together leading educators and researchers to explore the latest advancements in biomedical science education and practice. It also benefited biomedical scientists, students and industry leaders from across the UK and beyond who attended.
- Delegates could choose from more than 350 lectures, plus seminars, workshops and drop-in sessions related to the theme “Linking Learning to the Laboratory”. Students attended a dedicated programme to get the latest information on careers and finding employment and lab placements in biomedical science.
- Congress offered an opportunity to share knowledge, explore new ideas and connect with colleagues, providing practical insights that delegates can apply in their workplace. Over 100 leading diagnostic companies and service providers showcased the latest technologies and developments at the four-day event, which was held at the International Conference Centre in Birmingham in September 2025.
- Over 320 events took place across the UK on Biomedical Science Day in June. We sent out event packs containing promotional material about the IBMS and provided £17,310 of funding to teams running activities that celebrate the day. Most events were held in public areas in hospitals, with biomedical scientists and laboratory teams setting up displays to raise awareness of the profession. They also ran in schools and community venues.
On social media, #BiomedicalScienceDay2025 and #AtTheHeartOfHealthcare trended across X, Instagram and LinkedIn, with hundreds of teams sharing their displays, activities and team pride.
-
Our popular Harvey’s Lab Tours expanded to more than 70 UK hospital laboratories in cities including Bristol, Glasgow and Sheffield. One of the reasons for the increase is because we’re a point of contact for patients. We get in touch with hospitals not running tours when we get requests from patients to join one. The tours give young patients and their families a chance to step behind the laboratory doors and see first-hand what happens to their samples, thanks to biomedical scientists.
A tour of the laboratory can transform how they view their healthcare and understand biomedical science. For biomedical scientists, meeting the patients behind the samples brings a human connection to their work. Harvey Bear, the mascot for the tours, made his first appearance at IBMS Congress 2025, helping us share the story of Harvey’s Lab Tours with the biomedical science community.
Kathryn Pritchard explains how IBMS qualifications and specialist support helped her build advanced skills, boost her confidence and progress her career.
Award winners
From the IBMS Awards to the Mary MacDonald Bursary, our members were recognised and rewarded in 2025 for the incredible work they do.
We present members with awards to celebrate the outstanding achievements of the biomedical science profession. We also nominate our members for external award schemes to raise the profile of biomedical scientists in healthcare.
IBMS Awards
We held our second IBMS Awards in 2025 to celebrate the outstanding achievements of our members and inspire the next generation of biomedical scientists.
Public Engagment
Training and development
Best Use of Research, Innovation or Technology – sponsored by bioMérieux
Partnership Working – sponsored by Source LDPath
Sustainability – sponsored by SARSTEDT
Educational Institution
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI)
Team of the Year – sponsored by Cirdan
Rising star
Harvey’s Lab Tour of the Year
Biomedical Science Leader – sponsored by Medica
Biomedical Science Champion – The Overall Winner
The following awards were presented:
Organisation and individual award
Public engagement
‘Superbugs' Public Engagement Initiative
Dr Jon Tyrrell, Swansea University
Professor Matthias Eberl, Cardiff University Microbiology, Infectious Disease, Antimicrobial Resistance
Highly commended
Michelle Frost – Drink Spiking (Reduction and Toxicology), Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital
Organisation awards
Training and development
North East and North Cumbria Pathology Alliance Training Academy
Best Use of Research, Innovation or Technology – sponsored by bioMérieux
Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital – Drink Spiking (Reduction and Toxicology)
Partnership Working – sponsored by Source LDPath
NHS Lothian, The Hepatitis C Trust and The Scottish Prison Service – Blood Borne Virus Elimination
Sustainability – sponsored by SARSTEDT
Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board – Clinical Biochemistry
Educational Institution
Liverpool John Moores University
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI)
Keele University
Team of the Year – sponsored by Cirdan
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust – Cellular Pathology Services
Individual awards
Rising star
Isabel Pallera – Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Highly Commended
Muneebah Jasat – Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Harvey’s Lab Tour of the Year
Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary – Blood Science
Biomedical Science Leader – sponsored by Medica
Andrea Johnson – Wye Valley NHS Trust
Highly commended
Dr Guy Orchard – St John's Dermatopathology Laboratory, Synnovis Analytics
Biomedical Science Champion – The Overall Winner
Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary – Blood Science – Harvey’s Lab Tours
Award winner Gayle Johnson said:
I’m completely overwhelmed. This isn’t just about our team in Dumfries and Galloway, it’s about showing the public the heart of our profession. To receive this award, with Malcolm here, in Harvey’s name, means more than words can say. I’m just so proud of what we’ve achieved.
External national science awards
Each year, we sponsor a number of external awards. Since 2012, we have sponsored the award for Biological and Biomedical Sciences at STEM for Britain for early career research scientists to exhibit their work at a poster exhibition in Parliament.
We also sponsor Biomedical Scientist of the Year category at the Advancing Healthcare Awards, which celebrate the achievements of allied health professionals, healthcare scientists and those who work alongside them.
IBMS members were among the winners of the UK Advancing Healthcare Awards:
Biomedical Scientist of the Year
Craig Baker, cellular pathology and mortuary service manager at Hywel Dda University Health Board
Craig commented:
Winning Biomedical Scientist of the Year at the UK Advancing Healthcare Awards 2025 is a huge honour and an achievement that I am incredibly proud of. This award reflects the unwavering commitment, dedication and outstanding work of Biomedical Scientists across the profession, both within Hywel Dda University Health Board and throughout Wales.
I hope to use this recognition to help highlight the invaluable contributions of Biomedical Scientists and Health Science Professionals and the critical role we play in delivering patient care.
Other awards our members won
Advancing Healthcare Awards 2025
Rising stars
Angelika Kopec, a biomedical scientist at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust
Gerta Bicaku, an associate practitioner in the Immunology Department at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust.
The NHS England Chief Scientific Officer’s award for the Outstanding Healthcare Science Service of the year
The team at the Point-of-Care testing service at Berkshire and Surrey Pathology Services, Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust, Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust and Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust
Included IBMS members Sudhakar Vimalanathan, David Seeruthun, Angela Sullivan, Eulitty Gumunyu, Venera Genco, Anne Porter, Sophie Shepherd, Louie Ann Hernandez, Rebecca Sharkey, Rowan Henry, Zoe Robertson and Poppy Watts.
Congratulations to all IBMS winners of Scotland's and NHS England's Chief Scientific Officer Awards:
Scotland's Chief Scientific Officer Awards
Scotland's Chief Scientific Officer, Professor Catherine Ross, announced the winners of Scotland's Chief Scientific Officer Awards on Thursday, 13 March, in a virtual event as part of Healthcare Science Week 2025.
These awards celebrate the skills and expertise of our scientific workforce and recognise the positive impact Healthcare Scientists have on the delivery of health services and patient outcomes.
We are delighted to announce that several IBMS members won Scotland's Chief Scientific Officer Awards:
- Mark Mason - Healthcare Scientist of the Year
- Laura Van Schayk - Rising Star Award
- Ijeoma Okoliegbe - Quality in Action Award
Life Members and Honorary Fellowship
Life Membership recognises consistent, long-standing and valuable service to the IBMS at a national or international level.
Life Membership was awarded to
- Dr Nigel Brown for his outstanding contribution to clinical chemistry and toxicology over the course of a distinguished career. His work has improved diagnostic practice, strengthened services
,and helped shape the profession as we know it today. - David Oglesby who for over 35 years has helped to shape services, inspire colleagues and champion the profession at a national level.
Honorary Fellowship was awarded to
Karin Jackson for her remarkable contributions to laboratory medicine and integrating services across Northern Ireland.
Mary Macdonald Bursary
This Bursary was established in memory of former IBMS Council member Mary Macdonald.
Mary is remembered as an outstanding professional, colleague, and mentor. She began her career as a laboratory support worker and was keen to encourage and recognise excellence in others working in similar roles.
This prize aims to support biomedical science staff to complete the IBMS Certificate of Achievement Part I or Part II qualification. This was awarded to:
- Rosanna Gibbins and James Cornish both from the Cellular Pathology department at Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.
- Shannon Roberson and Annabel Wilkinson both from the Microbiology laboratory at North Tyneside General Hospital.
Rosanna on what receiving the bursary means to her:
I am really pleased to have won the Mary Macdonald Bursary. I am currently a Medical Technical Officer at Exeter histology laboratory and I look forward to progressing in my career, and contributing to helping and training others in their role. I am very excited to have been given this opportunity.
Congress bursaries
Bursaries that ensure more members can attend IBMS Congress and fulfill the legacy of the late IBMS Council members' Jen Johnson and Mary Macdonald.
Mary MacDonald Congress Bursary was awarded to four members
29 members were awarded a Jen Johnson Bursary
Ensuring more members could attend Congress 2025
Mary MacDonald Congress Bursary
The Mary Macdonald Congress Award sponsors 20 free places for non-HCPC registered IBMS members to attend the Biomedical Support Staff programme at Congress.
In 2025, we awarded the Mary MacDonald Congress Bursary to four members.
These were:
- Claire Lynch (awarded but could not attend)
- Virginia Macdonald
- Kelly Meliko
- Zoe Williams
Jen Johnson Bursary
The bursary is awarded in memory of Jen Johnson, who sadly passed away in March 2016. First launched in 2017, the bursary provides successful applicants with a grant up to £1,000 to attend IBMS Congress.
In 2025, 29 members were awarded a Jen Johnson Bursary. This included funding of up to £1,000 to attend Congress 2025.
Members were:
- Sabrina Anderson
- Hiteshwari Brahmbhatt
- Glen Byars
- Darren Creechan
- Simon Duffy
- Jade Hawson
- Ryder Atag Idawari
- Sithembile Mangena
- Patricia Marinic
- Elohor Mark-Otubu
- Manu Martin
- Plaxcedes Mautsa
- Sadie Mitchell
- James Moat
- Helen Ogochukwu Nwandu
- Emily O’Brien
- Ines Odia
- Shireen Padayachy
- Emma Parkins
- Aonat Raji
- Sarah Reay-Hall
- Chitra Shanmuganathan
- Claire Shepherd-Cutler
- Sophie Steward
- Claire Stratton
- Zoe Taylor
- Jasmine Walker
- Charlie Wanless
- Katy Woodward
Jen Johnson Bursary winner Patricia Marinic commented:
I again want to thank the IBMS and the Jen Johnson bursary for enabling me to attend such an well organised and very informative congress, I couldn't have attended without the bursary fund. I enjoyed learning new practices/techniques and meeting up with colleagues old and new and will certainly be bringing my new found knowledge back to our little hospital in the Falklands.
President's Prize
We gave 41 eStudent members the President’s Prize Award for graduating with academic distinctions in accredited undergraduate programmes.
The following members received the award:
- Avni Ajit, University of Gloucestershire
- Rose Andersson, Atlantic Technological University
- Marie-Claire Barazzone, University of Brighton
- Emmanuella Patience Bawuah, University of Essex
- Abbie Boyd, University of the West of Scotland
- Barnaby Brock, University of Strathclyde
- Andy Bruce, De Montfort University
- Kathryn Burdon, University of Plymouth
- Bianca Cabungan, University of East London
- Hollie Cornwell, University of Suffolk
- Reanne Dsouza, Kingston University
- Jun Hong Eng, IMU University
- Rileigh Alexandria Franco, University of Roehampton
- Alicia Pastor Garcia, Leeds Beckett University
- Anna Lucy Geere, Sheffield Hallam University
- Mariella Gonsalves, Aston University
- Sara Hughes, Ulster University
- Aaliya Javed Sheikh, University of Central Lancashire
- Muaazah Laher, University of Bradford
- Jolynar Majdi Izzat Matar, Gulf Medical University
- Molly Menary, Queen’s University Belfast
- Rachel Millington, Robert Gordon University
- Nawal Miraj, Teesside University
- Beatrice Chukwufunaya Nwabuokei, University of Surrey
- Chibuzor Excellent Nwadi, London Metropolitan University
- Muna Hanan Ougana, Anglia Ruskin University
- Moyosore Yusuf Kareem, University of Derby
- Shenan Vilochana Ranasinghe, University of Hertfordshire
- Megan Roberts, University of Hull
- Joshua Andreas Rowe, University of Westminster
- Stefano Luigi Scorza, Manchester Metropolitan University
- Kalvinder Singh, University of Greenwich
- Angela Stewart, Abertay University
- Isabelle Taylor, York St John University
- Heba Toumeh, University of Salford
- Leanne Vega, University of Portsmouth
- Evie Wall, University of Worcester
- Sadie Webb, University of Lincoln
Read the testimonials of some of the winners
I am profoundly honoured to receive the IBMS President’s Prize 2025, a testament to the passion and curiosity that fuelled my journey in Biomedical Science at the University of Brighton. My fascination with the microbial world was a driving force, especially the concept that ancient bacteria evolved to become the powerhouses of our cells, a fact that continually deepens my appreciation for the complexity of life. This led me to a placement year in the Microbiology Laboratory at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, allowing me to bridge theoretical knowledge with real-world patient care.
Company Members’ Prize
This prize is awarded annually to the candidates who, on their first attempt, achieved the highest mark in each discipline of the Higher Specialist Diploma examination.
In 2025, we presented the awards for 2024 to:
- Elizabeth Prince, based at St Peters Hospital, Chertsey, for the HSD Company Members Prize in Cytopathology
- Kathryn Pritchard, based at Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham, for the HSD Company Members Prize in Haematology
- Sonal Iylas, based at Sheffield Children’s Hospital, for the HSD Company Members Prize in Leadership and Management
- Leanne Brownhill, based at Black Country Pathology Services, for the HSD Company Members Prize in Medical Microbiology
- Jaz Marwood, based at Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham, for the HSD Company Members Prize in Transfusion Science
- John Williams, based at Royal Bournemouth Hospital, for the HSD Company Members Prize in Cellular Pathology
- Nicola Drew, based at Royal Sussex County Hospital, for the HSD Company Members Prize in Virology
- Morwenna Sampson, based at Royal Cornwall Hospital, for the HSD Company Members Prize in Clinical Chemistry
We also award a Company Members’ Prize for the candidate who achieved the highest mark across all the Diploma of Expert Practice qualifications.
This was awarded to:
Liliana da Conceicao Vieira Pereira, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, for her marks in the DEP in Histological Dissection.
RJ Lavington Prize
This prize, which consists of a cheque for £500 and a silver medal, is awarded to the candidate who, at their first attempt, receives the highest mark in the HSD examination across all disciplines.
This year it was presented to:
John Williams who undertook the HSD in Cellular Pathology.
Awards for the IBMS
This year, we won two awards: a Memcom Excellence Award for Best Magazine Relaunch and an Advancing Healthcare Award for our national Biomedical Science Day campaign.
These awards help to raise the profile of the IBMS and the profession.
What we will do in 2026
In 2026, we will continue to deliver for our members by focusing on three core areas: support, progress and promote.
Support
We will:
- Run a programme of webinars on our Support Hub, helping members to navigate key workplace and training challenges.
Topics will include: using artificial intelligence in education; what evidence should be included in the Registration Training Portfolio; supporting placement students; and addressing mental health, wellbeing and imposter syndrome in the workplace. - Launch a new online system for members to join the IBMS and access support. This will improve the membership application process, making it easier for people to access IBMS support as soon as they become a member.
- Carry out a comprehensive membership survey to gather insight and feedback, so our services continue to reflect the needs and priorities of our members.
Progress
We will:
- Launch the new Advanced Specialist Diploma (ASD) in Placental Histopathology Reporting to support biomedical scientists to work in paediatric histopathology and report on samples.
There is a worldwide shortage of paediatric histopathology pathologists who can diagnose diseases early, so we want to increase the number of biomedical scientist consultants working in this area. - Continue to develop Diploma of Expert Practice (DEP) qualifications in Red Blood Cell Disorders and Haemostasis and Thrombosis.
These two qualifications will complement the existing DEP in Routine Haematology. DEP qualifications are for biomedical scientists who want to take on advanced clinical practice roles. - Introduce version 5 of the Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics Specialist Portfolio, while updating existing portfolios to allow more biomedical scientists to complete Specialist Diploma qualifications.
We are looking at adding infection science as a clinical option for the genomics and molecular pathology portfolio and the possibility of metabolic modules being integrated within the chemistry portfolio. This will allow candidates who work in areas where there are currently no portfolios the option to complete a Specialist Portfolio.
Promote
We will:
- Mark 10 years of Biomedical Science Day with an enhanced programme of communications and activity to support members to deliver events across the UK.
This will increase awareness of the profession with members of the public. - Commission new research exploring the impact of biomedical scientists working within maternity care, highlighting their role in supporting patients on this pathway.
This follows the publication of an independent report from economics and finance consultancy Oxera in 2024. It showed that biomedical scientists working in bowel cancer care will save the NHS up to £571 million annually. - Use the findings and recommendations of the independent UK-wide pathology review led by Lord Patrick Carter to shape our policy work and influence future debate on biomedical science services.
Our strategy for 2026 to 2029
We will build on the success of our previous strategy.
Read more about the new strategy.
The IBMS has supported my career progression, providing access to qualifications like the HSD and keeping me up to date with developments in biomedical science. They provide CPD activities and help maintain high professional standards. I went to Congress in 2025 and got to interact with other members, as well as people from universities and companies which showed products we currently use in the lab. I could see their latest models and how they could improve patient care. Every month, I get the IBMS magazine which updates you about developments in the field.
Our accounts
IBMS Annual Report 2025
