In July 2025, QUOD took part in the Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences (NDS) work experience programme, partnering with the Transplant Research Group (TRG). Students were invited to spend an afternoon at the NHSBT Blood Donor Centre at the John Radcliffe Hospital, where QUOD and TRG share office and laboratory space, to learn about the biobank and the research QUOD supports.
The afternoon began with presentations introducing transplantation research and how QUOD supports this by supplying bespoke sample sets to scientists. Students watched our video following the journey of a QUOD box — from donor consent and sample collection to processing and storage in the biobank, according to regulations set out in the Human Tissue Act 2004. In the laboratory, Dr Jenny Collins, QUOD Research and Technical Assistant, demonstrated how tissue samples were processed for long-term storage as formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded blocks, and how sections of the tissue are cut using a microtome and slides are prepared to be used for histology.
Dr Letizia Lo Faro, Senior Scientist and Laboratory Manager, then guided the students in examining stained kidney tissue under the microscope. The students also gained hands-on experience using a protein assay to measure protein concentrations in solutions, similar to that used routinely to determine protein amount in tissue samples. They were particularly enthusiastic when observing ex vivo perfusion studies as they witnessed a liver perfusion experiment which was underway during their visit.
Later, the group met with Dr Richard Dumbill, Academic Clinical Lecturer and Surgeon, and Dr Lennart Hutzen, Medical Researcher, who shared their career journeys and offered advice on pursuing medicine and research.
It was a pleasure to welcome such engaged students and to showcase QUOD and the work the biobank supports. We hope the experience inspired them to explore careers in science and medicine, and we wish them every success for the future.
