Lisa Hitchins

Laboratory Technician

I completed my BSc (Hons) Zoology degree from the University of Liverpool in 2007. Since then I have worked for the NHS in a variety of laboratory based roles within the Virology and Histopathology departments. I am experienced in high-throughput diagnostic testing and performing molecular biology techniques including PCR, real-time PCR and ELISA. In hospital laboratories I have worked to strict standard operating procedures and followed rigorous quality control guidelines for processing clinical samples. I was also responsible for the maintenance and operation of the analysers and the production of results for Biomedical Scientists to report.

I joined LSTM in 2017 and currently work for Dr Mike Coleman supporting various vector-borne disease operational research projects.  I am involved in the use of molecular and biochemistry tools to support quality assurance of insecticides, insecticide-resistance monitoring and parasite infection detection.  I am also supporting capacity development and setting up a molecular biology laboratory in India for visceral leishmaniasis elimination programme monitoring.  Methods I routinely use include: HPLC, DNA extraction, PCR, qPCR and ELISA.