Virology testing services are at the centre of our national response to the COVID-19 pandemic. While we limit contact to protect the NHS and save lives, Virologists throughout the country have continued to meet the endless demand for COVID-19 testing. Elsewhere, the beginning of the pandemic markets a crisis in procurement, with personal protective equipment and testing kits at a national shortage. How does a virology service prepare for a pandemic? What does a procurement team do in an emergency? What should every future biomedical scientist know about a career in virology?
We follow Andrea Wilson and Sam Sheppard on their redeployment journey to the June Almeida virology lab, which was created in response to the pandemic. We also hear from Jonathan Ponce about the challenges Viapath’s procurement team faced at the onset of the pandemic. Their stories show the teamwork and innovation that make pathology services thrive.
Special thanks to our guests Andrea Wilson, Sam Sheppard and Jonathan Ponce.
This podcast was produced by members of The Viapath Future Leaders in Innovation: including Ariane Lim, Nana E. Mensah, Charlene Hoad and Kate Roberts.
Viapath UK: http://www.viapath.co.uk/
June Almeida News Release: https://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/news-and-events/2020-news/september/20200908-guys-hospital-names-covid-lab-after-pioneer-who-discovered-the-virus.aspx
Music: Pure By Design by Purple Planet Music (Free License)