Team – Lab Services LTD

Laboratory Director

Dr Libby Graham MVB MVM PhD Dipl. ECVM MRCVS

Laboratory Director

Libby graduated as a veterinary surgeon from UCD, Ireland, and has 20 years’ experience working in clinical and research microbiology, predominately at the School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow where she gained her PhD on FeLV. More recently she led the Infectious Diseases Diagnostic Unit there, including the world renowned feline virus unit. Libby is a Founding Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Microbiology (ECVM). She is particularly interested in new diagnostic technologies, feline viruses, emerging veterinary pathogens, and antimicrobial resistance.

Veterinary Specialist Team

Kostas Papasouliotis DVM PhD DipECVCP MRCVS
Head of Clinical Pathology

Kostas graduated from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (AUTh) in Greece. He spent more than 25 years at Bristol Veterinary School, as a PhD student, Clinical Pathology Resident, Lecturer and Senior Lecturer. Kostas was also Head of Clinical Pathology at Axiom Veterinary Laboratories and Finn Pathologists, and has worked as a Senior Clinical Pathologist and the Scientific Standards Co-ordinator for IDEXX Laboratories UK.

He has published more than 130 scientific papers, research abstracts, professional articles and book chapters, and lectures regularly in the UK and Europe. He is now Vice President of the European College of Veterinary Clinical Pathology (ECVCP).

Kostas is passionate about Quality Standards in the laboratory, and the education, training and support of vets, nurses and scientists working in both in-clinic and commercial diagnostic laboratories. He will play a key role in supporting Lab Services’ plans to establish a Clinical Pathology Residency Program, expand range of in-house testing, and support internal veterinary and veterinary nurse CPD programmes.

Dr Melanie Craven BVetMed PhD DSAM DipECVIM-CA MRCVS
Internal Medicine Specialist
Melanie graduated from the RVC, and undertook an internship and residency in small animal medicine at the Royal (Dick) Vet School in Edinburgh. There followed a PhD attained at Cornell University, USA in clinical gastroenterology, including comparative research on Crohn’s disease, an IBD of people. Whilst there she worked as a clinician with Cornell's medicine service for one year providing sabbatical cover, and on a part-time basis for the following 3 years. Melanie’s PhD discovery of a candidate gene for Boxer dog colitis led to the unmissable opportunity of a 2 year post-doctoral fellowship in the department of clinical human immunology at the National Institutes of Health in Washington DC, USA from 2011-2013. Since 2013 she has worked exclusively in private referral practice in the UK and overseas. Melanie’s subspecialty is small animal gastroenterology (intestinal, pancreatic and hepatic disease), endoscopy, and nutritional support, but she is genuinely an all-rounder in medicine with wide-ranging experience in critical care, nephrology, endocrinology, oncology, haematology, pulmonology, infectious and immune-mediated disorders.

Technical Management

Helen Taylor BSc

Technical Manager

Helen joined Lab Services in 2019 as Technical Manager, responsible for facilities and equipment maintenance, and assigned project management. Helen is also Deputy Quality Manager and Training Officer.

Quality Management

Nichola Tinsley BSc MSc

Quality Manager

Nichola graduated with an Applied Biomedical Science degree in 2012, and completed her MSc in Biomedical Science in 2021. Nichola has over ten years’ experience as a Biomedical Scientist in both public and private sectors. As Quality Manager, Nichola is responsible for ensuring Lab Services complies with the ISO 17025:2017 standard

Hasmita Thakar BSc

Quality Assurance Assistant

Hasmita graduated in Computer Sciences. She has since pursued a career in the healthcare sector, working to GMP standards, progressing to Team Leader. Hasmita joined Lab Services in 2021 to support the Quality Manager.

Haematology

Pius Boso BSc MSc FIBMS

Head of Haematology

Pius is an experienced haematologist, with expertise in exotic animals. He began his scientific career in the human field, progressing to Senior Biomedical Scientist at The Doctors Laboratory before switching to veterinary patients in 2011. Pius was Head of Haematology and Biochemistry at Greendale Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory for 8 years, before joining Lab Services in 2019.

Akruti Patel BSc

Veterinary Biomedical Scientist

Akruti has a BSc in Microbiology with a postgraduate diploma as a medical laboratory technician from Gujarat, India.

Olga Zadic

Veterinary Biomedical Scientist

Olga studied Medicine in the Republic of Moldova for 6 years before undertaking a further qualification in Laboratory Medicine (2016). Olga has 3 years' experience as a BMS.

Donald Akataobi BMLS

Veterinary Biomedical Scientist

Donald has multi-disciplinary experience over many years working in human healthcare, most extensively in Haematology. In his most recent role, he worked as Senior Biomedical Scientist in a busy clinical diagnostic laboratory in Nigeria. He joined our Haematology Team in 2022.

Biochemistry

Denise Pilkington BSc

Head of Biochemistry

Denise has a BSc in Science from the Athlone Institute of Technology, Limerick (2007). She spent 9 years working for the Dorevitch Pathology service (Australia), progressing to Project Manager for the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program before joining Lab Services in 2018.

Rebecca Cullen BSc

Deputy Head of Biochemistry

Senior Veterinary Biomedical Scientist

Rebecca has a BSc in Bioveterinary Science from Liverpool.

Rebecca joined Lab Services in 2016.

Ramakrishna Bathula BSc MSc

Senior Veterinary Biomedical Scientist

Ramakrishna is an experienced senior biochemist, who has previously worked in Quality Assurance. He has experience in the development and standardisation of in-house test methods.

Paul Morgan BSc

Veterinary Biomedical Scientist

Paul graduated from Manchester in 2005 with a BSc in Biomedical Science. Paul joined Lab Services in 2020.

Chris Nwaokoro BSc

Veterinary Biomedical Scientist

Chris has experience over many years working in human healthcare, most extensively in Biochemistry and Quality Management. His most recent role was Laboratory Manager of a busy diagnostic laboratory in Nigeria. He joined the Biochemistry Team at Lab Services in 2022.

Rebecca Ashford

Laboratory Technician Apprentice

Rebecca completed her A levels in 2021 and joined Lab Services on an apprenticeship program. She is studying for a Level 3 Laboratory Technician qualification in collaboration with Tiro.

Microbiology

Jessica Critchley BSc MSc

Head of Microbiology

Jessica has a BSc in Medical Microbiology and Virology from Warwick, and an MSc in Medical Parasitology from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Jessica joined Lab Services in 2015.

Suganthy Mayuran BVSc MSc

Deputy Head of Microbiology

Senior Veterinary Biomedical Scientist

Suganthy has a BVSc in Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science from the University of Peradeniya in Sri Lanka, and an MSc in Medical Microbiology from Middlesex.

Evelyne Abrazado BSc

Veterinary Biomedical Scientist

Evelyne has a BSc in Biological Sciences from Westminster and is also studying for her MSc in Medical Microbiology.

Asifa Ali BSc

Veterinary Biomedical Scientist

Asifa has a BSc in Forensic Science from De Monfort University (2017) and is currently combining work with study as she completes her MSc in Microbiology at Birkbeck University.

Tanju Sagi BVSc&AH MVSc

Veterinary Biomedical Scientist

Tanju has both undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications in Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry from the Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University in India.

Molecular Biology

Dr Muhammad Kamran BSc MSc PhD

Senior Veterinary Biomedical Scientist

Kamran has worked in research, diagnostic and higher education institutes, and has a wealth of experience in many fields, particularly molecular biology and immunology. Kamran joined Lab Services in 2021 to accelerate the development of the molecular diagnostic service.

Specimen Reception

Charlotte Arnall

Specimen Reception Manager

Charlotte has qualifications in Animal Care and trained for 4 years as a veterinary nurse. She joined Lab Services in December 2018.

Melisha Jesupeera De Souza BSc MSc

Veterinary Laboratory Assistant

Melisha has a BSc in Biotechnology from the Carmel College of Arts, Science and Commerce for Women (2013) and a MSc in Biotechnology from Mangalore University (2015).

Sadia Firdous DVM MSc

Veterinary Laboratory Assistant

Sadia is a graduate of veterinary medicine from Pakistan (2010) and has a MSc in Biomedical Sciences (2021).

Ola Lichtensztein BSc

Veterinary Laboratory Assistant

Ola has 18 months' experience as a Patient Care Assistant in clinical veterinary practice. She is now studying for her MSc in Animal Nutrition.

Babita Gurung BSc MSc

Veterinary Laboratory Assistant

Babita has an undergraduate degree in Biomedicine and an MSc in Molecular Medicine and Cancer Research. Babita has over 10 years' experience working as a Medical Laboratory Assistant in a range of NHS Hospital Trusts. She joined Lab Services in 2022.

Ray Akpofure BSc

Veterinary Laboratory Assistant

Ray has 7 years' experience working as a Medical Laboratory Assistant in a small number of NHS Hospital Laboratories. Ray is currently completing his MSc studies in Biomedical Sciences. He joined Lab Services in 2022.

Alexandra Wentworth BSc

Veterinary Laboratory Assistant

Alex has a BSc in Zoology and is now studying for her MSc in Medical Parasitology. She spent 16 months' working as a Patient Care Assistant in a busy Medivet branch. She joined Lab Services in 2022.

Customer Service Team

Lindsey Hills

Customer Service Team Leader

Lindsey joined the Customer Services Team in 2021. Lindsey has many years' experience in busy customer-facing roles, most recently as Assistant Retail Manager or Warner Brothers Studio Tour London.

Katie Zottola

Administration Assistant

Katie is a key member of our Administration Team, with extensive experience in secretarial roles.

Tracey O'Reilly

Administration Assistant

Tracey has many years’ experience in customer facing and administrative roles, most recently as HR administrator in the Medivet Support Centre. Tracey joined Lab Services in 2019.

Business Administration

Alison Wall

Senior Administrator

Alison joined Lab Services in 2014 and is our Senior Administrator. Alison has many years of experience working in demanding administrative and customer service roles.