Life in the Lab

From Heel Pricks to Hope: Beverly Hird on Newborn Screening and Early Diagnosis

What can a few drops of blood tell you about a newborn? Quite a lot. Bev Hird breaks down how newborn screening saves lives, the ethics of early testing, and her mission to ensure no baby falls through the cracks.

This Episode Will Kill You: Alex Lawson on the Frontlines of Toxicology

When a mystery drug shows up in Birmingham, Alex Lawson and his lab are on the case. In this episode, Alex walks us through clinical toxicology—from overdose detection to nitazenes and contaminated vapes, and why his job sometimes saves lives.

Bugs, Babies and Bill Gates: Elaine Cloutman-Green on Fighting Infections Everywhere

From GOSH to West Africa, Elaine Cloutman-Green is fighting infections with creativity and curiosity. She talks catheters, cleaning standards, genome sequencing, and how Azithromycin might save babies’ lives. Oh, and yes, she’s worked on a project called Mordor.

Hormones, IT, and Chest Pain Fixes: Dr. Mayur Patel on Lab-Clinician Collabs

Dr. Mayur Patel wears many hats: chemical pathologist, digital innovator, and hormone enthusiast. Tune in for a whirlwind tour through his career path, from endocrinology nerd to changing A&E chest pain pathways through troponin testing and IT upgrades.

Lab Waste, Big Wins: Jyoti Shetye on Sustainability and Centralising Labs

Labs aren’t exactly known for being eco-friendly… but Jyoti Shetye is changing that. From reducing stock days through team “league games” to closing labs without layoffs, she shares how she brought sustainability to the forefront of healthcare labs in the UAE.