Every member's voice - Rafia Al-Lamki

IBMS members of Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) ethnicity have been disproportionally affected in the UK by the COVID-19 pandemic, whilst the Black Lives Matter campaign has highlighted the need for greater understanding of the day-to-day issues of prejudice that many of our members face.

Therefore, we are asking our BAME members to contact us so that we can create a series of case studies. These are being used for an ongoing campaign of support and recognition to highlight the diversity of our membership and to show the value and strength that diversity brings to the biomedical science profession.

Our third case study comes from IBMS Fellow Rafia Al-Lamki:

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your career?
I am a Senior Clinical Scientist in Renal Medicine at the Department of Medicine University of Cambridge, employed by the University of Cambridge Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to carry out medical research, train postgraduate and medical students, and oversee laboratory management and the application of research grants. I am also a Trustee, Tutor and Fellow of St Edmund's College, a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.

I pursued my postgraduate studies in Cellular Pathology at the University of Cambridge’s Department of Pathology/Anatomy from October 1995 to 1999 having self-raised £70,000 from various companies and individuals in the Sultanate of Oman and the UK. My research project was based on examining the harmonious relations between maternal and foetal cell interaction in first trimester human pregnancy.  

As a BAME member of the biomedical science profession, what barriers do you feel you have had to overcome in your career?
Although it is difficult for many postdoctoral scientists to acquire research grants, in my experience of over 20 years as a BAME basic scientist, it has proven to be significantly more difficult to successfully acquire research funding as compared to my white counterparts and medical professionals. Considering I have documented novel data on human kidney and heart diseases in over 42 publications in various reputable scientific journals ( indexed here) it has often struck me that this is a systemic failing and quite likely due to my ethnicity.  

What more do you feel can be done to eradicate discrimination in biomedical science laboratories and improve career opportunities for BAME members?
I have personally not experienced any overt prejudice nor blatant discrimination in biomedical science laboratories during my training and working as a Biomedical Scientist in the UK or in the USA. On the contrary, I have received good support and thorough training. However, although there has been a noticeable increase in the number of minorities in biomedical science professionals over the last few years, BAME are still underrepresented in this profession. Thus, more has to be done - including highlighting the importance of diversity and inclusivity in the laboratories which will facilitate acceptance and awareness and help eradicate discrimination. 

Showcasing BAME achievements in various pathology disciplines at all levels will inspire minorities. Availability of resources for training and attendance/participation to conferences/seminars would help promote career progression. Importantly, reaching out to minority communities through social media will undoubtedly be advantageous.  

Has membership of the IBMS helped you and what more do you think could be done to support BAME members?
IBMS membership has provided me with an invaluable platform that has facilitated networking through its biennial congress, career development and increased my knowledge through publication of events/training courses and scientific articles in its monthly magazine and quarterly journal . It has also enabled me to gain specialised skills in the field of histopathology which has heightened my career as a Senior Clinical Scientist at University of Cambridge. 

Importantly, as for IBMS accreditation of non-UK undergraduate courses in Europe, Australia, Asia and the Middle-East, recognition and accreditation of undergraduate courses and laboratory placements in African countries is of utmost importance to invigorate students of minority background to embark on biomedical sciences as a profession. Perhaps this could be achieved if the IBMS liaised with African institutions on course content regarding HCPC (Health and care Professions Council) and UK NARIC (The National Recognition Information Centre for the United Kingdom) requirements.

Do you have any words of advice for our young BAME members who want to enter the field of biomedical science?
The various skills that I have acquired in cellular/molecular techniques and microscopy analysis during my work as a biomedical scientist have enabled me to execute my experiments independently during my MPhil/PhD studies and continue to do so in my current research at Cambridge. My training has helped me to gain the self-sufficiency needed to expedite my research and significantly reduce expenditures. Whether in healthcare, or in research, I would recommend always looking out for opportunities to train.