Written By Dr Mireille Howe.
Advanced Healthcare Scientist at ARHAI Scotland (NHS Scotland).
Honorary Research Fellow with the Safeguarding Health through Infection Prevention (SHIP) team at GCU.
We all have an interesting story about the roads we’ve taken. Life presents so many paths, and the people we meet or opportunities we encounter at just the right moment can steer us left or right. If you’d asked me as a child what I wanted to be, I’d always say a doctor – medical or veterinary. But as time passed, I became more curious about why things happen. Why is the sky blue? Why are most bananas curved? Why do some people get certain diseases?
I have something called mannose-binding lectin (MBL) deficiency, which basically means my immune system is missing a protein that helps recognise pathogens. Because of that, I might be more prone to infections than a ‘healthy’ person. This fascination with why things happen, particularly why diseases occur, led me to pursue a career as a scientist. Naturally, I developed a special interest in infectious diseases.
During my MSc in Science Communication and Molecular Biology at Leiden University, I had the opportunity to do a placement at an NHS hospital, studying how the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus interacts with its host. This experience was so captivating that I returned to the UK for a PhD with the Manchester Fungal Infection Group, once again researching Aspergillus fumigatus – this time focusing on developing siRNAs to treat fungal disease.
I never actually left the UK, as it gave me so many opportunities and an incredible network. On top of that, I ended up in my own little fairytale – I met someone special and ended up getting married in a Scottish castle. My career has seen a few shifts along the way, including moving into medical communication, because I’m also passionate about public engagement and making science accessible to all.
I first got involved in infection prevention and control (IPC) somewhat unexpectedly. I was working in the diagnostic lab at the Mycology Reference Centre in Manchester when COVID hit. I became deeply interested in the protocols, how we processed COVID samples, and, due to my immune deficiency, had to isolate for several months. As funding surged towards IPC teams, I joined ARHAI Scotland in 2022, as they expanded from four scientists to eighteen.
Within ARHAI Scotland we provide expert advice, evidence-based guidance, and clinical leadership to governments, health professionals, and the public, all with the goal of protecting Scotland from infections and antimicrobial resistance. My time with ARHAI has been packed with insights into IPC. We’ve identified several gaps in research, and I’ve been itching to do something about it.
My path has come full circle, returning to fungal research after connecting with Professor Gordon Ramage. Together, we established an agreement between ARHAI and SHIP, allowing me to dedicate one day a week to the NHS Assure project, focused on understanding Candida auris transmission and disinfection in Scotland. It’s a great opportunity to offer valuable insights and guidance on a subject I’m passionate about, while combining theory with hands-on research.
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