LCL Pen Portraits - Elisabete Martins

I earned my degree in Portugal and began my career in a private cellular pathology lab in Porto. Driven by a desire to progress professionally, I moved to the UK in 2012, as opportunities for advancement were limited in Portugal. I restarted my Biomedical Scientist career in 2013 in Stockport, where I worked for four years.

In 2017, I joined Liverpool Clinical Laboratories (LCL) as a Specialist Biomedical Scientist (trainee). This role provided me the opportunity to complete my specialist portfolio in cellular pathology. Initially, I worked in Histology, but my interest in Immunocytochemistry (ICC) led me to join the ICC team in 2018, where I deepened my expertise and achieved my Specialist Portfolio award in 2019. By May 2020, I advanced to a Senior Biomedical Scientist role—a challenging transition as it occurred during the pandemic, requiring me to support various teams across cellular pathology. Despite the challenges, this period proved to be a rewarding experience, offering significant professional growth.

In 2022, I embraced a new opportunity in Molecular Pathology as a Senior Biomedical Scientist. This role includes clinical responsibilities, which resonate deeply with my passion for patient-centred care. My work is based in the Molecular Pathology lab and the FISH lab within the CSSB building. Here, I manage and support staff while also interpreting and reporting results from Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) for lung cancer patients, Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH) for breast cancer patients, and clonality testing. Additionally, I serve as the CVLP (Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad) lead for our CPGC (Cellular Pathology Genomic Centre). This involves collaboration with NHS England and BioNTech on the BNT-122 cancer vaccine trial for colorectal cancer patients.

One of the most fulfilling aspects of my role is collaborating with Consultant Pathologists and Oncology teams to contribute to diagnoses, treatment plans, and prognoses for patients. The highlight of my career so far has been achieving the Specialist Portfolio award. Currently, I am pursuing a Master's degree in Cellular Pathology, with the aspiration to become a Clinical Scientist in the future.

Beyond work, I cherish my time with family and friends, traveling the world, and creating memories with my husband and two children, aged 8 and 2. My weekends are a whirlwind of activity, filled with laughter, love, and adventure. In quieter moments, I enjoy baking (especially birthday cakes), photography, and reading—whenever I can steal a few moments to myself!