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Blizard Institute - Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry

Pathology core facility

For all your histology needs

A banner displaying various microscopy images of pathology samples

The Core Pathology is a self funding UKAS accredited medical laboratory (8369) and is a fee-for-service facility providing histopathology services to members of Queen Mary University of London and other academic institutes, as well as providing a diagnostic service to the private sector (for more details on the diagnostic service please see tab below).

Our remit is to advise, support or carry out work for research groups within Queen Mary University of London which ranges from:

Users of the service can select from a number of options to enable them to work to their time and budgetary commitments:

  • Have the entire project completed by the Pathology Core Facility
  • Have the Pathology Core Facility cut the sections for staining in the users laboratory
  • Use the Pathology Core laboratory facilities to carry out the work themselves

It is advised that users come to discuss their project with us as you may wish to use a combination of any of the options above. The department is experienced with human and animal tissue but has had some experience in processing and cutting of different types of material like silk and leather (we will have a go at anything). There is archival animal and human tissue available as control material for optimisations.

The current staff are all biomedical scientists, specialists in histological techniques and are HCPC-registered. They can provide the technical expertise and resources to cover the full range of histopathological techniques. Tuition is also offered in all aspects of histopathological technique as well as supervision and use of facilities once trained. The facility is also able to advise on costing when submitting grants that contain a histopathology element and we recommend that prospective users visit the facility when planning their grant applications.

Each year our reputation for high quality work is spread further in the academic community as researchers move on to new positions resulting in the facility collaborating on projects with:

  • University of Bath
  • University College London
  • Kings College London
  • Guys Hospital.
  • Dundee University
  • Nottingham University
  • Texas A&M University
  • Liverpool University.

All work for the Core Pathology department is now requested through an online ordering system hosted by I-Labs. The link below will take you to the relevant site. If you are an internal user then you will be able to log on with your Queen Mary ID; if you are an external user then you will be required to set up an account and I-Labs will issue you with log in details.

Visit the I-Labs site

I-Labs manuals:

The Core Pathology facility is a UKAS accredited medical laboratory no 8369, HTA licensed and currently processes over 4,000 surgical cases. We have a full team of consultant histopathologists covering all specialities as well as an experienced and efficient team of biomedical scientists. All the biomedical scientists are HCPC registered and participate in CPD activities.

Specialities

  • Dermatopathology
  • Gastrointestinal
  • Hepatobilary
  • Endocrine
  • Male Genitourinary
  • Gynae
  • Lung Pathology
  • Soft Tissue
  • Lympho - reticular
  • Breast
  • Head and Neck
  • Cytology (Non-gynae)

Turnaround times for most cases are 24-48 hours. More complex specimens, and those specimens requiring additional testing, may take longer to produce the final report.

The facility can also carry out sub-specialities through a network of experts which includes:

  • frozen sections
  • immunohistochemistry

Some additional testing may be carried out by referral UKAS accredited medical laboratories.

We can provide a full or bespoke service, tailored to your histopathology needs.

For further details please contact Pauline Levey and Laura Neal by email at core-pathology@qmul.ac.uk.

The slide scanning service enables researchers to scan whole slides as digital images.

Equipment

Hamamatsu whole slide scannerThe equipment used is a state of the art Hamamatsu whole slide scanner with free software. This can scan a regular histology slide at either x20 or x40 objective lens on a standard light microscope.

Scan time

The scan time varies with tissue size, however, as a rough guide, a 1x1cm piece of tissue at x20 will take under two minutes and x40 will take under four minutes.

Measurement and analysis

Annotation and measurement is possible. However, no analysis software is available.

Website

Further information can be found on the Hamamatsu website.

What you need to bring

Apart from your samples, you will need a memory stick or external hard drive (at least 250mb space per slide scanned is advisable).

Cost

As this service is part of the Core Pathology unit, the upkeep and maintenance of the equipment needs to be covered as we are a self funding department. The prices can be found on our online ordering system, I-Labs. The button below will take you to the relevant site. If you are a internal user then you will be able to log on with your Queen Mary ID; if you are a external user then you will be required to set up an account and I-Labs will issue you with log in details.

Visit the I-Labs site

The London Haematopathology Course: a practical integrated approach to the diagnosis of haematological malignancies

The course is run in collaboration with Barts Health NHS Trust and is organised by Dr M Calaminici, Dr H Rizvi and Dr T Butler. The course is designed for senior trainees in histopathology and haematology, consultants with a special interest in haematopathology and researchers who are specialising in these fields.

The course consists of:

  • lectures and slide workshops
  • virtual slides available on London Deanery E-Learning website
  • interpretation of lymph node, spleen and bone marrow biopsies including neoplastic and non-neoplastic conditions
  • ancillary techniques essential for the diagnosis of haematological malignancies such as flow cytometry, cytogenetics and molecular methods.

Refreshments and lunches are provided.

The course fee is £250 and there are limited places. Please check the flyers below for dates of the next course. If you have any further questions please contact us via email at core-patholgoy@qmul.ac.uk or haematopathology@gmail.com

2014 Dates: Barts_Health_Haematopathology_Course-1.pdf [PDF 343KB]

2013

Acknowledgements

Rubeta N. Matin iet al., p63 is an alternative p53 repressor in melanoma that confers chemoresistance and a poor prognosis. J.Exp. Med. 2013 Vol.210 No3 581-603

2012

Authorship

Diana, c. et al., RHBDF2 Mutations Are Associated with Tylosis a Familial Esophageal Cancer Syndrome. The american journal of Human Genetics 90, 340-346, February 10, 2012.

Acknowledgements

Powell, N., et al., The Transcription Factor T-bet Regulates Intestinal Inflammation Mediated by Interleukin-7 Receptor Innate Lymphoid Cells. Immunity 37, 674-684, October 19, 2012.

Wolk, M. and Martin, JE., Fetal haemopoiesis marking low-grade urinary bladder cancer. British Journal of Cancer, 26 June 2012; 1-5

J Broad et al., Regional- and agonist- dependent facilitation of human neurogastrointestinal functions by motilin receptor agonists. British Journal of Pharmacology (2012) 167, 763-774.

2011

Authorship

Robert, CD., et al., Inbuilt mechanisms for overcoming functional problems inherent in hepatic microlobular structure. Computational and mathematical methods in medicine. 2011; Article ID 185845

Acknowledgements

Yadirgi G, et al,. Conditional Activation and Bmi1 Expression Regulates Self-Renewal, Apoptosis and Differentiation of Neural Stem/Progenitor Cells In Vitro and In Vivo. Stem Cells 2011;29:700-712

Wolk, M. and Martin, JE., Fetal haemoglobin (HbF) as an immunohistochemical tumour marker in bone marrow and spleen. J. Clin. Pathol. March 2011; 1-2

Presentations and posters

Chua, Y., et al., Oesophageal epithelial ASIC3 is associated with increase in severity of symptoms in patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD). Gut. 2011; 60:A171

William Harvey Day : Robert, CD., et al., Inbuilt mechanisms for overcoming functional problems inherent in hepatic microlobular structure.

2009

Acknowledgements

Fuchs, A., et al., CD46-induced human Tegs enhances B cell responses. Eur J Immunol. 2009 November; 39(11): 3097–3109

Wolk, M., et al., Titrimetric immunohistochemical evaluation of DNA hypomethylation in uterine tumours. J. Clin. Pathol. 2009; 62:1039-1042

2008

Presentations and posters

Timmins, LH., et al., Investigation into the mechanical and cytoskeletal protein inhomogeneity in bovine carotid arteries. Biomedical Engineering Conference at Imperial College London 2008.

2007

Authorship

Bowen, S., et al., The phagocytic capacity of neurons. Eur J Neurosci. 2007 May; 25(10):2947-55

Acknowledgements

Wolk, M., et al., Foetal haemoglobin-blood cells (F-Cells) as a feature of embryonic tumours (Blastomas). British Journal of Cancer. 2007 (97): 1-8

2006

Acknowledgements

Kruidenier, L., et al., Myofibroblast matrix metalloproteinases activate the neutrophil chemoattractant CXCL7 from intestinal epithelial cells. J.Gastro. 2006 January; 1:137-136

Wolk M., et al., Development of fetal haemoglobin-blood cells (F cells) within colorectal tumour tissues. J. Clin. Pathol. 2006; 59:598-602.

Presentations and Posters

Price. KM., Subcellular functional specificity of dynein-dynactin complex subunits – normal distribution and disturbances in neurodegenerative disease. Path. Soc. Jan 2006.

Kumar, P., et al., Angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis in testicular germ cell tumours (TGCT). Path. Soc. 2006

2005

Authorship

Banerjea, A., Immunogenic Hsp-70 is overexpressed in colorectal cancers with high-degree microstallite instability. Dis. Colon Rectum. 2005; 48:2322-2328

Acknowledgements

Meeson, S., et al., Preliminary findings from tests of a microwave applicator designed to treat Barret’s oesophagus. Phys. Med. Biol. 2005; 50:4553-4566

Presentations and Posters

Parachaney, P., et al., The effect of intrauterine growth restriction on the elasticity of the thoracic aorta in young rats. William Harvey Day, October 2005 and CISM Research Day June 2005.

Price. KM., Subcellular functional specificity of dynein-dynactin complex subunits – normal distribution and disturbances in neurodegenerative disease. William Harvey Day October 2005 and ALS/MND meeting Dublin December 2005.

2004

Authorship

Kelly, P., et al., Responses of small intestinal architecture and function over time to environment factors in a tropical population. Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 2004;70(4):412-419

Acknowledgements

Sanderson, I.I., et al., Age and diet act through distinct isoforms of the class II transactivator gene in mouse intestinal epithelium. Gastroenterology. 2004;127:203-212

Wolk, M., et al., Blood cell with fetal haemoglobin (F-cells) detected by immunohistochemistry as indicators of solid tumours. J. Clin. Pathol. 2004;57:740-745

2003

Authorship

Roger, F., et al., Abnormal expression of pRb, p16, and cyclin D1 in gastric adenocarcinoma and its lymph node metastases: Relationship with pathological features and survival. Hum. Pathol. 2003, December;34(12):1276-82.

1997

Authorship

Nickols, CD., et al., A Closer Look at the mouse mutant ‘gammy’ (gam), a proposed model for human club foot. Neuropathology and Applied Neuropathology 1997

March 2014

The Core Pathology Department is happy to annouce we have a new online ordering system for our research work, called I-Labs. The system allows you to book bench space to carry out immunohistochemistry,  time on the sldie scanner and request all other services. The system will generate quotes which you are able to download as PDFs and will help us and yourself to keep track of work flow and expenditure.

 

The link below will take you to the relevant site. If you are a internal user then you will be able to log on with your QMUL ID; if you are a external user then you will be required to set up an account and I-Labs will issue you with log in details.

I-Labs Link: https://qml.corefacilities.org/

 

13th March 2013

We are happy to announce that our slide scanner is now capable of scanning Fluroscence Stained slides. For more details please contact the lab.

19th Feburary 2013

I would like to say well done to Miss Rebecca Carroll for participating in the National Pathology Week which was held onthe 29th November 2012. This event helps to promote and educate the public of all disciplines in pathology including histopathology in which we specialise in. The feed back was very positive, see

21st October 2012

Our Publications and Courses tabs have been updated.

13th September 2012

We are happy to annouce that all staff have undertaken the 'Good Laboratory Practice' (GCP) course which meets the requirements for laboratory staff to participate and carry out work for Clinical Trials.

8th September 2012

We have just received confirmation that the department has passed its  latest CPA inspection and maintains its accreditation. The team has done a brilliant job and we only received 6 non critical non-conformities which were only minor document changes. Once again good job guys!

 August 2012

In 2006 the Core Pathology department participated in the Whitaker International Program (http://www.whitaker.org/grants/overview). This involves joint research projects between students from the USA and host laboratories around the world. The project title was 'Arterial Elasticity: Histological and Histochemical Analysis' and was headed by Professor Steve Greenwald (Pathology Group) in collaboration with Texas A&M Univeristy. Dr. Luke Timmins (http://www.whitaker.org/fsdirectory/info/29) was the lucky student who spent a year in our department and was a major asset, not just academically but he also became a  member of the team and formed close friendships with its members. He now has a post doc position at The University of Atlanta and we  continue to have close ties,  which has helped our department braoden our academic contacts and research interests. The department benefited considerably from this program, so as they have now updated their website, I thought I would share this information in case it is of interest to other groups.

 

Feburary 2012

The department was asked to participate in a documentary on BBC 1 called 'Death Unexplained'. This is due to the work we carry out for multiple Coroners around London. The documentary follows Coroners' cases from the start to end covering all aspects including the laboratory tests. Please check out the program and see what else we get up to.

Blizard Institute Core Pathology80 Newark St, London E1 2ES

Pathology and Pharmacy Building

Second floor - Room 217

80 Newark Street

London

E1 2ES

 

Phone: 020 324 60155

Email: core-pathology@qmul.ac.uk

 

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