Events during September 2023

Specialist portfolios: Updated, flexible and achievable

Trichophyton indotinaea is a newly described species of dermatophyte that has emerged with the last 10 years in India, and some Middle Eastern countries. It causes tinea corporis and tinea cruris mainly (ringworm infection of the torso and groin) and can spread to the arms, legs and face. T. indotineae is also characterised by a reduced susceptibility or outright resistance to one of the commonly used and otherwise highly effective antifungals, terbinafine. While high levels of cases are seen in Indida, countries outside of India and the Middle East are now seeing imported cases and the UK is not alone. Working with colleagues in London we have identified signficant numbers of cases and are now understanding how difficult these infections are to treat, even with antifungals that the organism should be sensitive to. Lesions are only superficial, but are itchy and disfiguring, and often relapse after initial antifungal therapy. We are continuing to learn about the epidemiology, transmission, diagnosis and treatment of this emerging infection.

The Higher Specialist Diploma (HSD) is the main route for gaining Fellowship (FIBMS) status. In this session I will provide a brief overview of the IBMS Higher Specialist Diploma (HSD) qualification explaining the disciplines that the HSD can be undertaken in, who the qualification is aimed at and how the qualification is assessed.

I will then provide advice and guidance on the completion of the portfolio element of the qualification and explain what a good portfolio looks like. I will also briefly explain how to prepare for the exam element of the qualification. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions about the HSD.

It’s life, but not as we know it. Emerging parasitic diseases

Delegates attending this presentation will:

Receive an overview of the clinical history of MMR/Lynch Syndrome, EQA and data from UK NEQAS ICC & ISH
Gain a better understanding of the importance of MMR testing and the UK NEQAS ICC & ISH assessment process.
The presentation will also focus on acceptable and not acceptable tests, and the importance of ideal controls.

Effective vaccine must deal with extreme HIV-1 variability and do so without guidance from natural immunity. For HIV-1, vaccines may need to induce both bNAbs and protective CD8+ killer T cells, the latter of which clearly impose a selective pressure on the virus and their protective potential should be harnessed by vaccines. However, not all antibodies and CD8+ T cells are protective; they must target vulnerable parts on HIV-1 proteins.

The central paradigm of the HIVconsvX T-cell vaccine strategy is focusing T cells on the functionally conserved regions of the HIV-1 Gag and Pol proteins, which are very similar among global isolates and harbour fewer escape mutations. At the epitope level, the remaining variability within the conserved regions is addressed computationally by using a bi-valent mosaic. Results of the first trials testing the HIVconsvX vaccine candidates confirmed that conserved sub-dominant and, therefore, underused T-cell epitopes taken out of the context of the whole virus or full-length viral proteins can induce robust and broad T-cell responses when delivered by an effective heterologous regimen such as ChAdOx1-MVA.

Progress towards an effective HIV-1 vaccine has been slow and riddled with many setbacks. However, systematic iterative development of vaccine components for both neutralizing antibodies and effective T cells informed by human data is beginning to pay off by bringing the first encouragements endorsing the field’s overall direction of travel.

This presentation will give:

Training requirements for Biomedical Scientists and Clinical Scientists
Insight into how the skills of a Biomedical Scientist enabled development toward Consultant Clinical Scientist.

Shared training – the Scottish Training Academy to Registration Portfolio training

HR and OH departments – how to work with them to achieve the best results

Learn how infectious disease POCT services have evolved across Wales. Discover how Louise's role as a Biomedical Scientist has evolved to National infectious disease POCT lead. Discover how POCT projects are contributing towards the World Health Organisations Hepatitis C elimination targets and how we foresee future POCT services expanding.