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Aspiring Researchers' Lab Journey

The document summarizes Shane Carias' research placement at the Institute of Lung Health in Leicester. The Institute encompasses the University of Leicester Department of Respiratory Sciences, the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, and the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust. As a research placement student, Shane's main responsibilities involved processing and storing samples for clinical trials and research studies on lung diseases like COVID-19, asthma, and COPD. His daily tasks included record keeping, sample processing, slide preparation, and lab maintenance. The placement provided Shane with invaluable hands-on experience in a wet lab environment and reaffirmed his interest in research.

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Shane Carias
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84 views10 pages

Aspiring Researchers' Lab Journey

The document summarizes Shane Carias' research placement at the Institute of Lung Health in Leicester. The Institute encompasses the University of Leicester Department of Respiratory Sciences, the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, and the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust. As a research placement student, Shane's main responsibilities involved processing and storing samples for clinical trials and research studies on lung diseases like COVID-19, asthma, and COPD. His daily tasks included record keeping, sample processing, slide preparation, and lab maintenance. The placement provided Shane with invaluable hands-on experience in a wet lab environment and reaffirmed his interest in research.

Uploaded by

Shane Carias
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Institute of Lung Health

Leicester

Shane Carias
The Institute of Lung Health
• The Institute for Lung Health encompasses the
University of Leicester Department of Respiratory
Sciences, the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre
and the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust.
• NIHR Biomedical Research Centre – Respiratory
focuses on developing novel therapies for treatment
and understanding the mechanism of various lung
diseases such as severe asthma, chronic cough and
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

2
Institute of Lung Health

University of Leicester NIHR Biomedical


University Hospitals of
Department of Research Centre –
Leicester NHS Trust
Respiratory Sciences Respiratory

Sputum cytology lab – 6 lab team members:


clinical trial and Tissue acquisition manager, lab project manager,
research research assistant, research technician and 2
placement students

3
My role as a research placement
student
Research student technician working in the sputum cytology laboratory
within the respiratory department

• The lab expertise in measuring eosinophilic airway inflammation for clinical testing,
clinical trials and research for airway diseases such as asthma.
• Sputum cytology procedure measures airway inflammation.

• HOWEVER, as this was during COVID-19, the lab shifted to supporting COVID-19 studies
instead, specifically Post-HOSPitalisation COVID-19 study (PHOSP-COVID).
• It was only after second lock down, where the usual clinical trial/research studies started
opening back up. One of them is called COPD-HELP trial.

• We also did sample processing for other research/clinical trial studies.


4
PHOSP-COVID COPD-HELP
• The first UK wide study assessing the impact • A clinical trial to compare the effects of
of long-term effects of COVID-19 on the mepolizumab (drug used to treat asthma) with
health outcomes of patients that were a placebo in participants who were admitted
hospitalized. for an exacerbation of eosinophilic COPD.
• The main aims were understanding the • The aim is to find out whether mepolizumab
mechanism driving consequences of COVID- can reduce exacerbations in patients with
19 post hospitalization, impact of eosinophilic COPD, reduce chance of re-
interventions and develop platform for future admission as well as death.
in-depth studies.

5
Record keeping and completing data collection worksheets.
Overview of my
day to day Processing blood, urine, oral wash and sputum samples for research studies.

Producing and staining slides for differential cell counts.


Our main responsibility was
processing and storing the samples
for the research studies. Using lab equipment including pipettes, centrifuges, Shandon cytospin 4, fume
hood, class 2 cabinets, microscopes, and haemocytometer.
We did not do any data analysis.
General admin tasks such as answering phone calls, producing audit forms, and
producing shipment forms etc.

Using OpenSpecimen (a tissue tracking system) to scan samples and allocate its
location.

Following COVID-19 safety measures e.g. disinfecting samples upon reception


and work surfaces, wearing PPE etc.

General upkeep of the lab such as stocking up on general lab consumables,


organizing, and receiving laboratory deliveries.
6
Blood sample procedure for PHOSP-COVID

Receipt of blood samples


from research nurses
Aliquot plasma into cryovials Store inside -80C freezer
Centrifuge blood samples ready for shipment

7
Application process

• 4 months application process


• Applied in December
• Shortlisted for an interview and lab tour in February
• Got back to me at end of March to let me know I was accepted.

• Had help with my CV and cover letter


• Lots of interview prep
• Luck was also involved : )
8
My thoughts on the placement

• Invaluable experience
• One-year paid placement
• Wet lab – very hands on experience
• Gained a lot of skills and knowledge such as lab equipment, competent
in processing samples, team-working etc
• Building my social connections in the industry
• Reaffirms my interest in research
• Helps me to stand out
9
THANK
YOU!
Shane Carias

Email
B8013033@[Link]

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