Visit to University of GlasgowWolfson Wohl

Cancer Research Laboratories, Beatson Institute

Wednesday 16 March 2016

Trinity Staff and PupilsVisiting the Beatson Institute

Mrs Tiero & Mrs Welsh with pupils:

Carly Burns 5M1Megan Coyle 5M1Katie Forrest 5M1Rachel Harper 5I1Olivia McLaren 5I3Michael MacMillan 5I1Jordan Trainer 5I2Megan Wilson 5M1

Trinity High School, Higher Biology students and fundraisers pictured outside the BeatsonInstitute world class Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre in Glasgow.

Meet the ScientistsSome of the key research scientists gave very interesting talks about their work which included the use of da Vinci nano robotic surgery to reach cancer cells in areas of the body that are very difficult to reach during normal operations.

Pupils of Trinity were joined by representatives of several schools and many other interested parties. Meet the scientists here.

A very bright and comfortable lecture theatre gave pupils the experience of attending a University lecture

Rachel and Megan, each squashing a fresh strawberry in a bag to begin the process of extracting DNA from strawberry cells.

Next, adding salt and detergent to the bag of crushed strawberry.

Many people, including Jordan, Megan, Olivia and Rachel enjoy demonstrations from the Beatson scientists.

DNA is now being extracted from the strawberry compound.

Mrs Welsh helps Megan filter the strawberry mixture and very keen science student , Michael MacMillan, has a go at DNA extraction too.

Mrs Tiero meets the scientists

And she takes a chance to find out more about the research into cancer during a break in proceedings

Some of our pupils chat with one of the Scientists over refreshments

Mrs. Tiero joins in the conversation

Michael ‘had’ to have his photograph taken with these amazing scientists. He aims to be following in their footsteps in the future. These are all foreign scientists who were attracted to come to Glasgow from around the world eg France, Brazil, Australia, Austria etc to conduct research using the excellent facilities at the Beatson Institute and to further their qualifications. They all believe that the Glasgow facility is one of the best in the world.

One of the labs the pupils and teachers were lucky enough to visit.

Katie, Jordan, Olivia, Megan, Rachel and the Trinity group chat with Scientists and observe how they do their very important work in the laboratories.

Beatson Scientist demonstrates and explains how he conducts his research in the lab using sterile conditions to produce cells to investigate.

He then shows them how to incubate and grow cultures in the labs

Here, the scientist shows pupils the cells he is viewing under the microscope on his computer screen.

He is so enthusiastic about his work they are all engrossed in his studies.

Michael feeling very much “at home” in the lab as he gets the chance to view the cells as the girls look on.

Trinity pupils listen enthusiastically to explanations about the latest developments in the research of how normal cells mutate and the progress Beatson scientists are making, using their knowledge about these changes to try to find ways to prevent and treat cancer in the future.

Jordan, Carly, Katie, Megan, Michael and Olivia all listening with very keen interest in all the scientist has to say.

Different scientist, but same very interested group of Trinity pupils and teachers listening intently to description of migration observed in normal cells when varied tests are conducted as they attempt to define precisely how this is different to metastisis in cancer cells. The scientist informs them that their efforts will hopefully result in new treatments becoming available within the next 2 or 3 years.

Pupils focus attention on another clever experiment, made available by the Institute’s purchase of the the most up to date technology. The experiment is run by their guide, an extremely enthusiastic PHD student from Austria. Trinity fundraising has contributed the funds used to buy equipment for the Institute.

Jordan views mouse intestinal cells under very high magnification using a very powerful microscope in one of the labs.

Katie has a look too to view the intestinal stem cells using the amazing quality scope.

Skills for Work – lots of jobs that budding scientists, engineers, administrators etc may be attracted to do at the Beatson Institute once they gain a University degree.

Very weary, but happy, Trinity High School pupils heading home after a wonderfully inspiring evening visit to see where over £2,700 of funds they helped raise for cancer research are being used to such good effect. See more about the work carried out at the Beatson Institute here>