IWD Profile: Andrea Broughton, Arotec Diagnostics Ltd
Inspiring Inclusion – International Women’s Day – 8 March 2024 What do you do? I am Workstream Leader for native Human derived antigens that we purify at Arotec Diagnostics Ltd. I manage a team of 8 alongside two other workstreams (Animal Derived and Recombinant Antigens). We prepare highly purified proteins that our customers use in diagnosing specific autoimmune diseases. What challenges does the job present to you? Every protein behaves differently, so it is important to recognise the particularities of each one and be mindful of anything that may cause the protein to become unstable or degrade. We want the customer to have consistent product, so its important that the quality is maintained throughout the manufacturing process. This is dependant on our source material, the equipment that we use, and the people we employ to carry out the purification process. How come your interest in the field of antigens? I have always enjoyed working in fields that focus on health and well-being, and this position allows me indirectly assist with helping people get a diagnosis, which hopefully will lead to a more effective management system for their condition and a better quality of life. As leader of a team of Production Scientists, at Arotec Diagnostics you must be well organised? It is critical that we are well organised; we have a Production schedule that is based on manufacturing particular proteins to meet customers needs when they require it; we also need to ensure we have the adequate resources (equipment and staff). It can be a bit like playing Tetris at times! I find keeping routines helpful both within the workplace and homelife as a way to stay on top of things. What are developments in this field that you are observing? And how do they impact society? With autoimmune disease, […]