Histopathology
Programme overview
We are excited to offer an opportunity for Year 12 students to gain hands-on experience within our Histopathology Department. This work experience placement aims to provide insight into the specialized techniques and research conducted in histopathology, giving students a real feel for what it’s like to work in this essential area of biomedical science.
What you will do:
During the placement, students will have the chance to:
- Learn and assist in embedding mouse tissues into paraffin wax blocks, an essential step in preparing samples for analysis.
- Observe and participate in floating out paraffin sections and mounting them onto glass slides, a key technique for preparing tissue samples.
- Work alongside experienced professionals to understand histological techniques such as in situ hybridisation (ISH).
- Scan and analyze slides using advanced imaging techniques, such as Fluorescent In Situ Hybridisation (FISH), to gain insight into tissue structure and cellular components.
- Engage in discussions and supervised group activities to develop skills such as precision, observation, and data interpretation.
About the Histopathology team
Our Histopathology Core Facility specialises in providing a variety of routine and advanced histological techniques to support cancer research. These include immunohistochemistry (IHC), in situ hybridisation (ISH), laser capture microdissection, automatic slide digitisation, and advanced image analysis. These techniques are crucial for understanding the microscopic structure of tissues and identifying disease-related changes.
This placement will give students the opportunity to explore how histopathology techniques contribute to cutting-edge research, using state-of-the-art equipment and methods to analyze tissues at a cellular level.
What to expect
This placement is designed to be an immersive and interactive experience, tailored for secondary school students with an interest in science, biology, or healthcare. Students will be encouraged to observe professional workflows, ask questions, and actively engage with mentors who are experts in histopathology. By the end of the programme, students will have gained a clearer understanding of how tissue analysis plays a vital role in advancing cancer research.
We look forward to inspiring the next generation of scientists!
Additional information
- Dress Code: Lab coat and safety equipment will be provided; wear comfortable closed-toe shoes.
- Supervision: Students will be supervised by the Senior Staff listed below.
We look forward to welcoming students and providing them with a valuable experience!
Risk Assessment:
| List of task | High risk | Medium risk | Low risk | Control measures |
| Processing/Embedding mouse tissues into paraffin wax blocks | x | PPE, supervision by Jo H & RAs | ||
| Floating out paraffin sections and picking up on glass slides | x | PPE, supervision by Jo H & RAs | ||
| Scanning of FISH slides & Image Analysis | x | Supervision by Cara & Julia |