Biobank Assistant/Researcher

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has become available at the RNOH for an individual interested in supporting clinical research within the NHS.

The Histopathology Department is looking for a full-time Band 3 Biobank Assistant to join our research team. The role may involve identifying and approaching patients face-to-face to obtain consent to use their samples for research purposes. The applicant will also ensure that biobanked samples (including blood, plasma, slides, wax blocks, frozen tissues, and DNA/RNA) are logged for ongoing research projects. In particular, they will be responsible for selecting, preparing and scanning slides and linking them to clinical data as part of a cutting-edge digital pathology and machine learning (artificial intelligence) project.

Main duties of the job

The role will allow you to:

• acquire valuable NHS experience
• gain confidence in speaking to patients
• consent eligible patients for the Biobank
• use databases and spreadsheets to log, track and anonymise patient samples and data
• support Biobank research across a range of clinical projects
• learn about cancer, sarcoma and other diseases
• collect blood samples by phlebotomy and process them to extract plasma

Support and full training in consenting patients and/or phlebotomy (as necessary) will be provided and for all components of the job in which the candidate does not have experience. The successful candidate will need to become vaccinated against Hepatitis B. Excellent communication and organisation skills are required.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Selecting, preparing and scanning slides for digital pathology projects.
• Using databases and spreadsheets to collect and organise clinical data and to log and track research samples.
• Preparing samples to be sent by courier, or receiving them from collaborators.
• Pseudonymising and storing patient and clinical trial samples appropriately.
• Identifying, using hospital databases, patients eligible to be approached for donating their tissue for research.
• Seeking consent from patients in person or otherwise.
• Collecting patient samples from operating theatres for research purposes
• Processing blood by centrifugation and aliquoting the component parts of the sample.
• Preparing blood packs and consent forms for colleagues.
• Taking blood samples from patients (phlebotomy) for research: training to be provided.
• Working flexibly between Stanmore and Bolsover St sites as required to contact patients.
• Attending Biobank team meetings.
• Administrative duties: scanning patient consent forms, pulling and archiving wax blocks and slides.
• Any other duties required to maintain the operation of the Biobank.

Applicant requirements

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.