{"id":281,"date":"2025-04-29T10:38:21","date_gmt":"2025-04-29T09:38:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.imperial.ac.uk\/nhli\/?p=281"},"modified":"2025-05-12T15:46:08","modified_gmt":"2025-05-12T14:46:08","slug":"microscopic-insights-inside-the-histology-facility-at-nhli","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.imperial.ac.uk\/nhli\/2025\/04\/29\/microscopic-insights-inside-the-histology-facility-at-nhli\/","title":{"rendered":"Microscopic Insights: Inside the Histology Facility at NHLI"},"content":{"rendered":"

“I believe we can ensure the facility continues to empower innovative, world-class science \u2013 while remaining accessible, flexible, and researcher-focused”<\/h2>\n
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Connor Preston, Senior Technician<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Histology is the microscopic study of tissues and organs through sectioning, staining, and examining those sections under a microscope.<\/p>\n

The Research Histology Facility<\/a> is a key component of the Inflammation, Repair and Development (IRD) Section<\/a> at the National Heart and Lung Institute<\/a> (NHLI), providing essential services such as paraffin processing and embedding and cryosectioning whilst also offering advice on protocol development and troubleshooting for immunohistochemistry staining.<\/p>\n

We had the opportunity to speak with Connor Preston<\/a>, Senior Technician overseeing the IRD Histology Facility, to learn about his day-to-day responsibilities, his passion for discovery, and how his role aligns with his goals of fostering stronger interdisciplinary collaborations within the facility.<\/p>\n

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Can you tell us about your role at the Research Histology Facility? What does a typical day look like for you?<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\n

As the Senior Technician overseeing the IRD Histology Facility at the National Heart & Lung Institute, I provide a full histological service to support researchers across the NHLI and wider Imperial community. On any given day, I could be processing samples, embedding tissue, cryosectioning, performing stains (H&E, special stains, IHC\/IF), or troubleshooting protocols for researchers.<\/p>\n

Alongside the hands-on lab work, I manage the daily operations of the facility, coordinating bookings, ordering reagents, maintaining equipment, ensuring compliance with COSHH and HTA regulations, and training PhD students and postdocs. It\u2019s a role that blends technical precision with people-focused collaboration, and no two days are the same \u2013 which is what I love about it.<\/p>\n

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How did you first get involved in Histology, and what attracted you to this field?<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\n

My journey into histology began in clinical histopathology at Great Ormond Street Hospital. I was fascinated by the way tissue preparation and staining could reveal so much about disease at a cellular level. That curiosity led me to explore research histology, which offered more scope for discovery and experimental development.<\/p>\n

Over the years, I’ve worked in varied environments – from diagnostic services to world-leading academic institutions like UCL and Imperial – but the common thread has always been the excitement of uncovering the microscopic stories within tissues, and helping researchers find answers to complex biological questions. It is endlessly fascinating.<\/p>\n

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What are some of the key techniques and technologies used in the Histology Facility, and how do they support research?<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\n

We provide a broad range of histological techniques, including:<\/p>\n