The Journey of a Blood Sample
In early 2021, we joined a Terrence Higgins Trust Peer Support Scotland session and asked the service users what they were most interested in when it came to blood-borne virus (BBV) research at the CVR. What came out of the session was their interest about what actually happens to a blood sample after it has been donated to scientific research, and how is it used.
To do this we focused on two streams - a creatively facilitated online workshop between people living and working with BBVs to explore how this journey could be visualised, and a set of video’s showing how different members of our scientific team actually work with and research blood-borne viruses.
Watch the videos below in order to find out more:
The journey of a blood sample into scientific research
Professor John McLauchlan (Professor of Viral Hepatitis)
In this video John introduces our project, our team and the importance of donating clinical samples to scientific research.
The importance of biobanks for understanding viruses
Dr Sarah McDonald (CVR Biobank Manager)
In this video Sarah explains what a bio-bank is, and how important they are to help us understand viruses.
Understanding viruses from their genetic material
Dr Ana Da Silva Filipe (Head of CVR Genomics)
In this video Ana explains how we can use a viruses genetic material to find out more about where it came from and how we can treat it.
How viruses enter cells
Dr Joe Grove (Senior Lecturer)
In this video Joe explains the importance of understanding how viruses enter the cells of our bodies to be able to develop vaccines.
How cells detect intruders
Dr Adam Fletcher (UKRI Future Leaders Fellow)
In this video Adam explains how the cells of our bodies detect viruses, and how some viruses such as HIV are better at hiding than others.
What do viruses need?
Dr Marko Noerenberg (Post-doctoral Researcher)
In this video Marko explains how a tiny virus with so little genetic information can take over not only a cell but a whole organism such as a human being.
How our immune system fights viruses
Dr Patawee Asamaphan (Post-doctoral Research Assistant)
In this video Patawee explains how much we can find out from one single blood sample.
Understanding Hepatitis C virus diversity
Dr Rajiv Shah (Clinician and Clinical Research Fellow)
In this video Rajiv explains how blood samples taken from people living with Hepatitis C virus, can help us understand the diversity of the virus and how best to treat it.
How research underpins the NHS
Professor Emma Thomson (Clinical Professor of Infectious Diseases)
In this video Emma explains how pivotal fundamental research is for the NHS to develop new treatments and vaccines.
