Amanda joined the NIHR Newcastle MIC team in 2019, shortly before completing a MSc in Biomedical Science, gained from Nottingham Trent University. Previously she had trained as a Biomedical Scientist and has clinical laboratory experience in microbiology, haematology, blood transfusion and stem cell transplantation science. Currently she is sharing her skills with the Innovation Laboratory, part of the Integrated COVID Hub North East initiative. The Innovation Laboratory aims to partner with the NIHR Newcastle MIC to accelerate the development and adoption of next generation diagnostics. In addition, the Innovation Laboratory is establishing a Biobank which will improve access to clinical specimens for use in diagnostic research.

Amanda aims to leverage the unique position between the two groups in order to integrate all aspects of diagnostic evaluation, from the bench to the bedside. Her personal research interests are development of target product profiles to improve alignment between diagnostic developers and the unmet need within the NHS, and how the analytical properties of tests influence their diagnostic accuracy.