Three circular images of people working in the Biomedical Research laboratories on a dark blue background

Biomedical Research Laboratories (BRLs)

The BRLs are newly refurbished multi-user laboratory facilities supported and managed by the School of Medicine Core Technical Team, who can provide support and assistance across various research areas. Located in the Queen's Medical Centre (South Block C and D floor and West Block C, D and E floors).

Interior of one of the Biomedical Research Laboratories

Facilities overview

Lab facilities overview

West C Floor (BSL-2) – general purpose labs

Molecular analysis and sample processing
Bacterial culture
Tissue culture quarantine and mycoplasma testing
Walk-in cold room
Liquid nitrogen generator and cryogenic storage

West D Floor – tissue processing/culture labs (Biosafety level 2)

Biomedical Research Lab with 17 Class II safety cabinets
Dedicated labs for human/animal cell culture, blood and virus handling
Quarantine facility for sensitive samples

West E Floor – long-term storage (Biosafety level 2)

Human tissue storage at -80°C
Fixed tissue archiving

South D Floor (CL1 and CL2)

Open-access lab space for Class 1 work
Tissue processing and sectioning
Immunohistochemical/histochemical staining
Digital pathology suite with high-throughput scanner and microarray tools

Tissue culture

Tissue culture facilities

West C floor - tissue culture quarantine and mycoplasma testing (Biosafety CL2)

Quarantine room (2 MSC)
Mycoplasma testing service in a dedicated facility run by the core technical team (2 MSC)

West D Floor – Tissue processing / culture labs (Biosafety CL2)

Primary tissue cultures room (3 MSC)
Sample processing room (3 MSC)
Established cell line tissue culture room (4 MSC)
Virus and GM work room (2 MSC)
Microscopy room

Molecular biology

Molecular analysis techniques

RNA/DNA extraction room
PCR stations (four)
Fast real-time PCR system (two stations)
Agarose gel electrophoresis (four stations)
Protein gel electrophoresis/western blot (two stations)
ELISA stations (three with plate washer and reader)
Pyrosequencing station (PyroMark Q48)
Sample preparation for Multiplex Luminex

Histology and digital pathology

Facilities for tissue processing and sectioning

Communal space for sample dissection and preparation
Tissue processing station (Thermo Shandon Excelsior AS)
Wax embedding station (Epredia Histostar)
Paraffin sectioning stations (Thermo Finesse ME+ microtome)
Cryosectioning station (Leica CM1850UV cryostat)

Immunohistochemical and Histochemical Staining facility

Vented communal spaces for manual staining and IHC
Automated Histochemical staining stations (2) (Leica Autostainer XL)

Digital pathology facilities with tissue micro array production capability and high throughput digital scanner

Tissue Micro-Array preparation (3D Histech Tissue Micro-Array Grand Master)
High Throughput slide Imaging (3D Histech Pannoramic 250 slide scanner)

Sample storage

West E Floor - long-term storage facility (biosafety CL2)

Long-term human tissue storage at -80°C
Fixed tissue storage

West C floor

ULT freezer room
Liquid nitrogen generator and sample storage

South D floor

ULT freezer room

Gloved hands dispensing red liquid from a pipette into a small container

What we provide

Maintenance of the equipment and consumable stock
Health and safety management
Preparation room management
Mycoplasma quality control
Expertise and training in techniques and in using equipment
Technical specialists to deliver projects

Contact us

For general enquiries, including support for grant applications or to arrange a tour of facilities, please contact: MS-BRL-Technicians@nottingham.ac.uk

BRL SharePoint page (University of Nottingham staff only)