UK Health Security Agency
Respiratory and Vaccine Preventable Bacteria Reference Unit
Until recently Carmen worked at the UK Health Security Agency (formerly Public Health England) and predecessor organisations since 1999. Starting with a laboratory based job in the virus reference department, developing serology assays, she moved into the Respiratory bacteria field in 2000. Focussing on developing non-culture diagnostic and characterisation tests for pneumococcal disease. Carmen attended her first ISPPD in Alaska 2002. She completed a Ph.D with Queen Mary University of London in 2006, duiring which she further developed PCR and antigen detection methods for detection of pneumococcus and began using sequence based methods. Carmen was heavily involved with the switch of the reference laboratory to whole genome sequencing and the development of the pneumococcal serotyping tool PneumoCaT which was published in 2016 with the pneumococcal routine service going live in the UK in October 2017. Since then she has changed careers somewhat, undertaking an MSc in Bioinformatics which she passed with distinction in 2020, also gaining state registration as a Clinical Bioinformatician in 2021.
Moderator of 1 Session
Session Type
Meet-the-Expert Session
Date
Mon, 20.06.2022
Session Time
14:00 - 15:00
Room
Grand Ballroom East
Chair(s)
Session Description
During this session we plan to discuss 3 main themes, namely:
1. Understand how public health agencies have been adopting pathogen genomics to improve outbreak, surveillance and research efforts;
2. Identify the value and challenges of incorporating next-generation sequencing into sample processing;
3. Discuss quality management and steps towards accreditation when using genomic data;
At the end of the session, attendees should be able to go away with ideas to set-up or improve their current systems. They should also have established some contacts/networks for onging assistance or collaboration (if needed).
Please note: All MTE sessions are designed to encourage active learning and to concentrate on close interaction between audience and speakers. The MTE session organisers have provided at least 15 minutes for active discussions in their agenda.
1. Understand how public health agencies have been adopting pathogen genomics to improve outbreak, surveillance and research efforts;
2. Identify the value and challenges of incorporating next-generation sequencing into sample processing;
3. Discuss quality management and steps towards accreditation when using genomic data;
At the end of the session, attendees should be able to go away with ideas to set-up or improve their current systems. They should also have established some contacts/networks for onging assistance or collaboration (if needed).
Please note: All MTE sessions are designed to encourage active learning and to concentrate on close interaction between audience and speakers. The MTE session organisers have provided at least 15 minutes for active discussions in their agenda.