Joanie Lee Irving

Joanie is a scientist who has spent many years working as a Senior Research Bioscientist in the Pharmaceutical Industry working on the forefront of drug discovery.  Her job took her from research into gastrointestinal disorders, to cardiovascular, metabolism, osteoarthritis and infection disease therapy areas.

In 1994, Joanie developed the first pilot high through put screen assay at a major Pharmaceutical Company and found that existing data handling software just could not cope with processing the masses of data generated from the high throughput screens.  Her particular responsibilities were to process and present data on compounds in an understandable form to scientists of many different disciplines within the projects.  To enable her to do her job, she spent time with computer experts and software design personnel, inputting into the design and development of bespoke software packages. The design of the software was extremely important as not only bioscientists, but also chemists, molecular biologists, protein scientists, bioinformatics scientists and clinicians needed to be able to use and relate to the new software.

Joanie found that she became so involved with this aspect of science and the downstream training of personnel in the new software that in 1999 she studied the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development’s “Certificate in Training Practice”. After gaining this qualification she spent time as an IT tutor in Further and Secondary Education.

Maintaining links with the Pharmaceutical Industry, Joanie and a PhD chemist then adapted a statistical discovery software data visualisation package to the needs of bioscientists and chemists and currently deliver training to scientists in the major Pharmaceutical and Agrochemical Industries.

In 2000, Joanie set up “IT and Scientific Training” and has negotiated contracts with major Companies to train scientists and other employees in the use of Microsoft Office, Data Handling Software Packages and Bioscience Assay/Test Cascade design. 

Joanie is an Honours Graduate, a Chartered Biologist, a Member of the Institute of Biology, British Society Of Cardiovascular Research, International Heart Research Society and Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.