Dr. Karen Mead

Karen has been the Specialist Transfusion Practitioner (TP) within North Bristol NHS Trust since 2004 – when the role was newly-created and first introduced across England.

Upon completion of her undergraduate Biomedical Science degree, Karen undertook a PhD in Immunology at the MRC Centre for Immune Regulation, University of Birmingham Medical School.  She then briefly worked in Platelet and Granulocyte Immunology (PGI) within NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), during which time she completed her Biomedical Scientist state registration specialising in Transfusion Science with Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics.

Karen has sat on several regional and national transfusion-related groups including the South-West Regional Transfusion Education sub-group, JPAC Standing Advisory Committee on Information Technology, and has recently joined the National Blood Transfusion Committee (NBTC) Haematology and Trauma Group.  She has also contributed to several National Comparative Audit Project Working Groups.

Karen became a member of BBTS in 2004.  She was Chair of BBTS TP Special Interest Group (SIG) from 2023-2026, during which time she was an active member of the Academic Conference Committee, planning and Chairing the TP session.  She remains a member of the TP SIG, also sits on the BBTS Communications Committee and has been a Council Member since 2024.

Karen represents BBTS within the National Transfusion Practitioner Network (NTPN) and within the Steering Group for the TP Professional Development Framework as part of T2024/Transfusion Transformation.