Histology

Our Services

Today, with the continued development of the unit, the provision of histology services can be sub-divided into several areas. The breadth and depth of services offered, demonstrates how the unit underpins the research efforts of many groups.

Fixation, processing, microtomy & vibratome

No one fixative is ideal, and as result, the unit provides a selection of the most commonly used fixatives, together with advice for correct choice. Specimens are processed on the automated Shandon Excelsior or Leica ASP tissue processors using various schedules depending upon the size and nature of the tissue. Specialist tissue preparation, cut up and decalcification regimes can be employed if required.

Paraffin sections may be stained for morphological examination using the Leica autostainer XL. Unstained sections are used for downstream nucleic acid extraction, immunohistochemical analysis, in situ hybridisation, laser capture microdissection or spatial transcriptomics and proteomics.

The unit houses the Leica VT1200 vibratome. Without the freezing or processing of samples, the system allows for the sectioning of artifact free fresh tissue sections (up to 1000µm thick) to be used for culturing, immunohistochemistry or free-floating studies.

Cryotomy

Processing methods can have a deleterious effect on tissue constituents, and as a result, in some circumstances frozen sections may be the preferred method using the Thermo NX70 cryostat. Advice on all aspects of frozen tissue preparation and post fixation is available. The preparation of fixed cryoprotected samples is also routinely performed.

Cryostat dark shot

Special stains

Special stains allow for the demonstration of a variety of tissue constituents. Common requests include lipid, carbohydrate and cytoplasmic granule staining, together with various single and trichrome techniques for connective tissues and extracellular substances. Methods for specialised haematoxylin, nucleic acid and bone preparations are also available.

Researcher using equipment for bond slide loading in a laboratory focused on cancer studies

Brightfield and Fluorescence microscopy

The unit houses the Zeiss Axio Imager 2 upright microscope. With its various filter sets this allows for in-depth fluorescent and brightfield interrogation of tissue slides. With both a colour and black / white cameras the system can capture stunning quality images.

Microscope lens close up

Nucleic acid extraction

The facility offers a range of extraction techniques, maximising both the quality and quantity of RNA / DNA captured. The resultant nucleic acids are quality checked as part of the service.  Upstream, this service may incorporate either laser capture microdissection using the LMD600 or direct tissue macrodissection.

Laser capture microscope stage

Spatial Technologies

The facility houses both the GeoMx DSP and Visium Cytassist platforms. The unit undertakes all the wet lab procedures up to and including hybridisation for these techniques. Optimisation of morphology markers for both the GeoMx DSP and phenocycler in the unit, is key to the success of these techniques.

Gloved hands loading laser capture microscope
Image of blood cells under scientific observation
Gloved hand operating Leica software

Working with tissue samples

Tissue Arrays are cost effective

As many advanced labelling techniques can be expensive, the facility offers a range of techniques with the aim of maximising tissue use and thus improving cost effectiveness.

Tools for building tissue arrays

Manual and automated tissue microarrays (core size 0.6-2.0mm) are built, with each recipient block housing up to 150 samples. Composite block arrays and multiple tissue section arrays are alternative strategies often used.

Human Tissue – Biobanking

Histology is integral to the success of the MCRC Biobank and the two departments work closely together to deliver an effective and efficient service to researchers. This includes preparing FFPE samples from Biobank collected samples and constructing TMAs. In addition, research projects involving the use of human material are processed through the facility. The Biobank runs over 60 active projects at any one time and many of these require Histology support to deliver them.

Human tissue – compliance

The unit plays an integral role in ensuring compliance with HTA Standards, most nobility the tracking and traceability of human material both for Biobank and non-Biobank projects.

Tissue Arrays are cost effective
Tools for building tissue arrays
Human Tissue – Biobanking
Human tissue – compliance

Immunohistochemistry and In situ hybridisation

Immunohistochemistry is a technique employed by many groups within the Institute. The protocols can be automated or antibodies manually applied dependant on the downstream applications. Several epitope retrieval stations are also available.

Advice and support in all areas such as choice of fixation, epitope retrieval, method design / deployment and visualization is available.
Validation of novel antibodies, multiple chromogenic and fluorescent labelling panels, troubleshooting and interpretation of results are commonly undertaken.

Basescope and RNAscope are also offered as services. To interrogate the tissue fully these can be run as multiplex or single plex assays incorporating protein detection.

Microscope with team in background

A note from the Team Leader – Garry Ashton

The facility is housed together with other core facilities on the 4th floor of the new Paterson Building. The lab is subdivided into areas allowing the unit to offer a full range of both routine and advanced histological services for oncology research. The bespoke design of the area has allowed for range and complexity of the services offered to continue to grow and for a large number of both basic and translational research groups to adopt various tissue-based experimental approaches.

Meet the Histology Team

Garry Ashton Core Facility Manage
Garry Ashton

Core Facility Manager

Caron Abbey
Caron Abbey

Senior Scientific Officer

Amy Lawrence

Scientific Officer

Peter Magee
Peter Magee

Scientific Officer

Nicola Tonge
Nicola Tonge

Senior Scientific Officer

Lung squamous cell carcinoma Neighbourhood Analysis
Translational Lung Cancer Biology
Mouse mammary tumour
A scientific diagram showing the lung's normal anatomy with detailed annotations.
Pancreatic research graphical representation
Garry in cabinet dark shot
Gloved hands loading machine
A group photo of the Histology team
i
i
i
i
i
i
i
i
i
i
i

Get in touch

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Institute life in Manchester

We strive to make our community a welcoming, caring and enthusiastic one, fuelling ambition with opportunities for training and mentoring to help us all achieve our personal and professional goals.

“We are so pleased to have received the funding to enable us to test our hypothesis in the lab. If we can create a new medicine that can precisely target a specific type of cell within the tumour, and restore anti-cancer immune responses, this will be a game-changer for oesophageal cancer patients “

Sara Valpione

Former Institute Clinical Fellow and now Clinician in Residence within the CRUK National Biomarker Centre

“My charity bake sales – known as “David’s Great British Bake Off” – are always a hit, home baked products taste so much better than shop bought and are greatly appreciated by staff!”

David Jenkins

Purchasing Officer

“We’ve seen some remarkable responses, with an improvement for some patients within days. This is an early phase trial so there’s a lot more work to do. But the data we have so far is very encouraging and could help many thousands of people in the future”

Tim Somervaille

Senior Group Leader

“It is a pleasure to introduce my team who work to deliver our research goals. We work in a friendly and collaborative environment, supporting each other’s projects.  “

Amaya Virós

CRUK Advanced Clinician Scientist Fellow

Careers that have a lasting impact on cancer research and patient care

We are always on the lookout for talented and motivated people to join us.  Whether your background is in biological or chemical sciences, mathematics or finance, computer science or logistics, use the links below to see roles across the Institute in our core facilities, operations teams, research groups, and studentships within our exceptional graduate programme.