As part of the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine we are able to call upon many shared resources and expertise. For example, like many immunology labs, we rely heavily on the use of flow cytometry and our world class flow cytometry facility is extremely well-equipped. We have an experienced flow cytometry specialist who supports the equipment, conducts cell sorting, and assists in introducing innovative new applications. Our cytometry equipment now includes a sophisticated LSR II, which allows high-speed 11-parameter sample analysis.
To achieve our goals, we train PhD students, provide research experience for undergraduate students as part of the final year of the Departmental honours programme and for those who apply for summer studentships, and employ post-doctoral research assistants who mentor more junior lab members. We use a broad range of practical techniques that encompass a core of knowledge that provides solid training in cellular immunology, basic molecular biology, animal husbandry, histology and flow cytometry. The techniques that students learn are problem led; we are trying to answer basic biological questions as efficiently as possible. As part of the Faculty of Veterinary and Medical Sciences, our researchers have access to formalised courses to improve skills in a wide-range of both scientific and transferable disciplines: These range from IT, to presentation skills, management and teaching
Our Autoimmune Inflammation Research group is embedded within the wider research theme of Infection and Immunity. Throughout their PhD or post-doctoral training, all researchers present their work at weekly 'Research in Progress' meetings to an audience of their peers and principal investigators. These meetings provide feedback and encouragement as well as practice for presentations given at external meetings. Our department's standing in immunology, also allows us to attract internationally renowned visiting Scientists, who visit to give research seminars and also interact with students individually and in small groups.
Because we study autoimmune inflammation in the contest of disease, all our research projects have clinical relevance. Most projects do not involve patients directly, but we do maintain close links with the Bristol Eye Hospital and its academic staff. Research carried out by other investigators in Infection and Immunity range from basic science through to translational clinical studies, and students will therefore gain some experience of all these areas.