Meet the scientists!

Platelets are tiny cells and they don’t even have a nucleus. You might think they are boring cells, but wrong. Those cells are really important to stop bleeding which we scientists call homeostasis. Platelets do their job in our bodies but once we get them out in a blood sample and have a close look they start to tell us some of their secrets how they work, how they become activated and which compounds may inhibit their activity. In my PhD project I use several tests in the lab to find some answers to those questions.

On a typical lab day when I have a volunteer, I have to be a really early bird! My volunteers come without breakfast so everything has to be ready before they come in usually around 8am. Once I have the blood then I need to be quick to get all my tests done before the platelets become tired and then I cannot use them anymore. That’s my morning until lunchtime.

In the afternoon I have time to get the data into shape or take care of my volunteers or talk to my students – I have two students at the moment who help me with the lab work – or write a paper. I try to go home at around 6pm but it doesn’ always work out that way

The British Heart Foundation produces a wide range of resources for use in schools by teachers and children. The materials are free but they rely on donations to cover the costs.  For more information see http://www.bhf.org.uk/ under schools on top of the page.