Tissue Bank Technician - Advanced Therapies Facility - 54579 - Band 400

Position Details

Advanced Therapies Facility, College of Medical and Dental Sciences

Location: Advanced Therapies Facility, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

As this vacancy has limited funding the maximum salary that can be offered is Band 400, salary £20,488

Band 400

Full Time, Fixed Term Contract until 31st July 2022

Closing Date: 5th December 2021

Job Summary

The main role of the post holder is delivery of the core services provided by the Human Biomaterials Resource Centre (HBRC). The HBRC is an HTA-licensed human sample biorepository and resides within the Advanced Therapies Facility (ATF) which also houses both gene and cellular therapy manufacturing suites. The HBRC is a quality controlled environment regulated and operates in an HTA-compliant manner.

The post holder will undertake the procurement and processing of appropriately consented quality assured and annotated biomaterials from patients in a wide range of disease settings for release or storage for biomedical research. He/she will also be expected to assist with tissue processing, sample analysis and hosting services.

The HBRC has developed into a key facility helping to deliver translational research programmes which are central to the College research strategy. The post is varied, requires a strong sense of initiative, the ability to work under time pressures, and also knowledge of the regulations, legislation and governance arrangements applicable to clinical research which uses human tissues and clinical trial samples. The post holder will interact with senior academic, clinical and surgical staff, and often with patients, therefore effective communication and strong interpersonal skills are essential. 

Main Duties

It is a requirement for both HTA and GCP compliance that all procedures within the HBRC are carried out according to strict Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) which comply with all current regulations, legislation and governance arrangements surrounding the research use of human tissues and handling of clinical trial samples, and with Health and Safety regulations.

• To undertake the procurement of consented human biomaterials (tissue, blood or other body fluids) from patients within local NHS Trusts, and normal healthy donors. This may involve the oversight of tissue samples passing through cellular pathology departments before entry into the HBRC and the retrieval of archival fixed tissue blocks. It will also involve the packing and dispatch of samples being released to biomedical researchers at external institutions.

• To be carry out initial processing of such samples e.g. centrifugation, prior to storage or release to researchers.

• To complete the necessary records and electronic tracking logs related to sample procurement, receipt, processing, storage, release and annotation.

• To assist with further sample processing (e.g. nucleic acid extraction, tissue sectioning/staining, microarray construction, tissue culture, immunohistochemistry).

• To contribute to the Quality Management System within the HBRC. Review of SOPs, risk assessments and COSHH assessments. To contribute to internal and external audit procedures, and to regulatory inspections.

• To be responsible for basic local H&S matters within the facility laboratories.

• Any other duties within the ATF commensurate with the grade and skill base of the post holder as directed by the Director or Operations Manager (HBRC) and/or Operations Manager (Infrastructure).

Person Specification

• Familiar with technologies associated with handling human samples.

• General laboratory experience.

• Experience of working within a biomedical environment.

• Familiar with health and safety requirements/policies relating to biological, chemical, liquefied gases and manual handling.

• Attention to detail and ability to maintain accurate records.

• Good level of basic computing and technical skills.

• Good communication skills and ability to treat all work as confidential.

• Courteous and patient.

• Positive service attitude.

• Post holder will be trained in all aspects of HBRC activity and the regulations surrounding the collection and storage of human samples for research.

• Ability/willingness to work outside of normal hours occasionally.

Informal enquires to Dr Gareth Bicknell, email: [email protected]

Further particulars can be found here: http://www.download.bham.ac.uk/vacancies/jd/MDSFPs.pdf

The University is committed to safeguarding and we promote safe recruitment practice, therefore all associated pre-employment checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed. Due to the nature of the work undertaken in this role all successful applicants will be subject to a satisfactory Occupational Health clearance prior to appointment.

Valuing excellence, sustaining investment

We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working