Amy Bradshaw
Amy Bradshaw is a Scientist in the Health and Environment group at the Kenepuru Science Centre.
Qualifications
Amy earned her Master's of Biomedical Science at Victoria University.
About
Amy obtained a Bachelor of Biomedical Science from Victoria University in 2009, before spending three years working as a technician in Aotea Pathology’s microbiology department. She then returned to Victoria University to complete a Master of Biomedical Science researching genetic interactions in a yeast model of Niemann-Pick Disease Type C, followed by a brief foray into cancer stem cell research in glioblastoma multiforme tumours. Subsequently she spent two and a half years at MPI working in biosecurity, which resulted in her becoming involved with the exotic disease response to the 2017 Mycoplasma bovis outbreak. Amy moved from MPI to ESR in 2019, taking up a position in the Legionella Reference laboratory conducting molecular testing for Legionella species identification and typing. More recently this has included research towards transitioning testing over to whole genome sequencing platforms, enabling enhanced data collection and surveillance of Legionella species present in New Zealand. When Covid-19 arrived in New Zealand in March 2020 she joined the laboratory response team to assist with the initial diagnostic testing, eventually resulting in her taking on the Covid-19 whole genome sequencing Laboratory Lead role on a half time basis in May 2022. One of Amy’s key areas of interest is the use of genomic data to have a direct and positive impact on public health and the wellbeing of individual patients. The wealth of data available from whole genome sequencing provides invaluable information to manage communicable disease outbreaks, monitor antibiotic resistance, and enhance research capabilities. She hopes to be involved in many future projects at ESR that will enable effective utilisation of new sequencing technologies to safeguard public health.