Post by QIAGEN

For Kimberley Howarth-Munro, our Associate Director, Dx Assay Development, the impact of her work became clear when her father was diagnosed with prostate cancer. The treatment that helped him was linked to a QIAGEN companion diagnostic that Kimberley herself had previously worked on. In that moment, the work our teams do every day took on new meaning: improving lives through science.   Kimberley joined QIAGEN more than thirteen years ago on what was meant to be a six-month maternity cover contract as a scientist. Since then her role has evolved significantly. Today she oversees resource planning for more than 140 colleagues while directly leading a team of 20 with a strong focus on developing people through training, collaboration and shared knowledge.   Her impact goes beyond her role. Kimberley also leads the charity committee at our Manchester site, bringing colleagues together through events that support local causes including Francis House Children's Hospice, Manchester Children's Hospital, Coffee4Craig and Cancer Research UK (CRUK).   As Kimberley puts it, “A strong community doesn’t just happen. You build it, nurture it and make space for people to connect, share and grow together.”   On World Prostate Cancer Day, Kimberley's story is a reminder of the personal impact behind scientific progress. Every advancement in diagnostics has the potential to help patients and families navigate some of life's most challenging moments. Through the dedication of colleagues like Kimberley, we continue working to make improvements in life possible.