Research Technician

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Research technician with a background in biological sciences to join our friendly team. We are well-established and run many research studies involving respiratory care and studying disease.

We are looking to appoint a highly organised Sputum processing technician to work in our research laboratory. You will need to have excellent laboratory skills and be able to follow clinical trial SOPs.

The role is to provide laboratory support for respiratory research. We are looking for a candidate that can process human biological tissue samples such as blood, urine and sputum. Sputum is processed manually, selected from the whole sample, treated with a mucolytic and centrifuged. The total cells are assessed and a cytology slide and cell supernatants produced. The slide is assessed for airway inflammation.

The same technique is used in Clinical trials to test potential drugs or treatments. Blood, urine, nasal swabs and PBMCs are processed, labelled and stored. The post holder will also be responsible for barcoding, labelling, tracking and managing freezer space. For clinical trials, dry ice shipments need to be booked and packaged according to IATA regulations. Shipments need to be logged for tracking purposes.

The candidate should have excellent communication, time management and record keeping skills. Excellent I.T. skills are required to use a number of software packages including tissue tracking and barcode labelling software

Main duties of the job

The Respiratory Cytology laboratory conducts:-

Analysis of sputum and bronchoalveolar lavage from the airways. The analysis involves Sputum cytology differential cell counts for airway inflammation. Samples are obtained from, clinics, research and commercial studies, ensuring milestones for clients are met.

• Clinical testing

Respiratory Cytology laboratory provides a clinical testing service for the UHL. The centre specialises in measuring airway inflammation using induced sputum analysis.

• Research

Patient samples are logged and processed using study specific SOPs and include sputum, urine and blood - for serum, plasma and PBMCs. Samples are logged onto the tissue tracker database, OpenSpecimen and stored in a HTA licensed tissue archive facility. There no automated equipment so training is required to process samples manually and stored according to HTA regulations.

• Clinical Trials

Pharmaceutical investigator sponsored studies: early phase development to identify and validate drug targets and in later phase development involving Phase 2 and 3 clinical trials. Samples are received from external sites for sample receipt, sample processing, data collection, analysis and storage. Traceability of ambient and dry ice shipping to central labs according to IATA regulations is required.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

General Laboratory duties

General duties include maintaining equipment by cleaning and decontaminating regularly. Reagents need to be prepared and regular stock checks taken of reagents, consumables and shipping material, orders to be placed when required.

Work diaries need updating to plan for the forthcoming week. Sample logs are to be updated and samples picked and packaged if required for analysis.

The job role involves working in the laboratory to process, log and store human tissue specimens including sputum, blood, urine and faeces for clinical testing, research and clinical trials. The role will involve the use of laboratory equipment including haemocytometer, microscopes, centrifuges, Class 2 cabinet and fume hood.

The Leicester Respiratory BRC is a specialist centre for Induced sputum processing. The post holder will become an expert and will be able to troubleshoot and train other researchers. The spontaneous or induced sputum sample, is initially assessed for appearance - mucoid, muco-purulent or purulent. It is selected from the whole sample, avoiding food contamination, blood and squamous cells. Following treatment with a mucolytic and centrifuged, the total cell count is calculated. A sputum supernatant is collected and a cytology slide is produced and stained for a differential cell count to be reported.

Storage of samples needs to be organised on OpenSpecimen tissue tracking software using barcoded labels and 2D tubes, boxes need to be organised and racked matching the database and freezer space managed. Periodically there will be requests for samples to be transported for analysis. Using OpenSpecimen the samples (up to 100) need to be picked one at a time using dry ice to prevent defrosting, re-boxed and a new sample manifest generated. The samples can then be transported in a similar way to clinical trials samples packed in dry ice according to IATA regulations.

For clinical trials, the laboratory manuals needs reviewing and attendance at the Site investigator meeting may be required for training in the protocol. Once started trial data including sample collection logs, electronic databases and shipping records need to be maintained. Minimum levels of shipping material need to be maintained.

The hours are standard 9am to 5pm, 37.5 hrs per week. In emergency situations there may be a requirement to be available out of hours if there is a freezer malfunction.

There is a requirement to provide sickness and holiday cover and observe health and safety regulations. Mandatory UHL training must be kept up to date as well as reading documents and new SOPs in accordance with the Quality Management System.