Could you be a Specialist Advisory Panel member?

The IBMS Specialist Advisory Panels are vital in ensuring the success of our work to help the profession progress.

There are panels for Cellular Pathology, Clinical Chemistry, Cytopathology, Haematology, Immunology, Medical Microbiology, Molecular Pathology, Point-of-Care Testing, Quality Management, Transfusion Science and Virology.

The advisory panels play a significant role in the success of the Institute through their work, which includes:

• Organising the scientific programme for their discipline for the IBMS Congress and contributing to other aspects of this event, including chairing sessions and judging posters
• Working with the Institute on revisions to the existing, and the development of new, professional qualifications
• Representing the Institute on local and national groups and committees and reporting the outcomes of the meetings attended to their advisory panel and the IBMS Council
• Commenting on revisions to existing, and the development of new, Institute professional guidance documents
• Responding to requests for information and replying to consultations, such as on the development of new standards, that the IBMS has been asked to contribute to
• Acting as a source of advice on a range of topics, including patient/service users, emerging technologies and laboratory training
• Working with the Institute’s Education and Professional Standards Committee and other working groups
• If appointed as an examiner, helping to ensure the successful delivery of the HSD by setting the exam papers and marking the portfolios and exams within their chosen discipline and participating in candidate preparation day events.

Expanding membership of the panels

Each panel has historically been made up of around 12 “expert” members, including a Chair, Deputy Chair, Chief Examiner, two Deputy Chief Examiners, a Company Member and six “ordinary” members.

At a recent meeting of the IBMS Council it was agreed that we should seek to expand the number of members on the advisory panels to help ensure, as far as possible, that we have representation from across the UK and the different specialist areas within each discipline. An increased membership will help ensure that the work that the Institute asks the panels to undertake continues to be done in an effective and timely manner with more viewpoints being considered and it will enable better succession planning of the membership of the panels.

Being an advisory panel member gives you a fantastic opportunity to undertake different roles, acquire skills, develop your network, broaden your understanding of how laboratories across the country deal with issues, share and contribute to the development of best practice within biomedical science and to get wider recognition for your own professionalism and expertise in your discipline. All of this can help not only your own place of work, but also your own future career progression.

To be able to join as an ordinary member, you need to have Institute Member (MIBMS) or Fellow (FIBMS) and Chartered Scientist (CSci) status with scientific or managerial experience in a chosen specialty/discipline. Priority will be given to those with both FIBMS and CSci status but individuals who have MIBMS status and/or are non-chartered may be appointed to a panel as a co-opted member moving to full membership once they have gained Fellow (FIBMS) status and are chartered. Academics working at IBMS-accredited universities are also welcomed to apply to join any of the advisory panels. Such individuals should have FIBMS status and can have Fellow or ideally Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA/SFHEA), rather than CSci.

The standard term of appointment for each position on the panel is four years, with the option for further re-appointment. Panel meetings are held twice a year with other meetings being held on an ad hoc basis, depending on the work that the panel is undertaking. Depending on the length of the agenda these meetings are held either virtually or face to face. The IBMS will reimburse reasonable expenses for meetings that you attend in person. Face-to-face meetings are not usually held more than once a year and there will always be the option to join remotely as the Institute is set up for online and hybrid meetings.

“All of this can help not only your own place of work, but also your own future career progression”

If you are interested in joining one of these panels please send a copy of your CV and short supporting statement clearly explaining what you feel you could bring to the panel you are applying for to Chris Ward, Head of Examinations at the IBMS via email (examinations@ibms.org) by Friday 28 April 2023.

The new Molecular Pathology Advisory Panel

Recognising the growing importance of this discipline, the IBMS is pleased to announce the formation of a Specialist Advisory Panel with responsibilities for those aspects of molecular pathology relevant to the membership. Some of its members are module leaders in the Certificate of Expert Practice, others bring experience from other disciplines in laboratory science.

A leading task is the establishment of a Specialist Diploma, which will be released later this year. There will also be a half-day session on molecular pathology at Congress, where some of the new Panel will be presenting.

Chair: Dr Andrew Blann is a blood scientist with a long history of clinical research in haematological aspects of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and autoimmune disease, with several textbooks in print.

Deputy Chair: Amy Newman’s background is in cellular pathology and she worked in a leading IHC/FISH referral laboratory in London from 2004 to 2017 before progressing into molecular pathology in 2019.

Richard Matthews began his scientific career in cellular pathology before moving to bring his experience in immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridisation to NHS Lothian’s integrated molecular pathology service.

Dr Matt Griffiths is a Principal Lecturer in Cellular Pathology at Nottingham Trent University. Previously, he was an advanced specimen dissector, working in histopathology for 20 years.

Dr Katya Mokretar is a molecular geneticist with experience in haematological diseases. She has developed skills in translating current research advances to the haematology diagnostic lab.

Isla Henderson Hunt qualified as a biomedical scientist in Haematology at Raigmore Hospital, Inverness. She now runs the Myeloproliferative Neoplasm Service within Molecular Pathology at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.

Dr Gary Reynolds is a clinically registered and academic biomedical scientist in cellular and molecular pathology, with a track record in development and implementation of novel, specialist techniques (both clinical and research).

Benjamin Poskitt is a cellular pathology-trained biomedical scientist with a career split between histopathology and immunohistochemistry and molecular pathology of common solid tumours.