Meet the Southampton Research and Clinical Histopathology Samples (SRCH) team
What is the Southampton Research and Clinical Histopathology Samples (SRCH) Team?
Southampton Research and Clinical Histopathology Samples (SRCH) is a specialist research unit within the Cellular Pathology department, providing high-quality support for biomedical research through access to human tissue samples and advanced laboratory expertise. The team is authorised to release residual clinical tissue and ensures that all samples are supplied in full compliance with ethical approvals for both academic and commercial research.
How does your team support research in our university–hospital partnership?
SRCH plays a vital role in enabling cutting-edge research and supporting clinical trials. By facilitating access to well-characterised tissue samples, the team helps researchers gain critical insights into disease mechanisms, biomarker discovery, and treatment responses. Their work directly contributes to the development of innovative diagnostics and therapies, ultimately improving patient outcomes. generation of clinical researchers.
SRCH provides a range of specialised techniques to support diverse research needs. These include tissue microarray construction for high-throughput sample analysis, expertise in multiplex immunohistochemistry, enabling the simultaneous detection of multiple biomarkers within a single tissue section, and advanced digital imaging to enhance accuracy and reproducibility.
With a strong focus on quality, compliance, and collaboration, SRCH works closely with researchers, clinicians, and industry partners to deliver reliable and efficient services. The team is committed to maintaining the highest standards in sample handling, data integrity, and ethical governance.
Who is in the SRCH Team?
- Singam Sivasankar - Senior Clinical Trials Assistant
- Robinson Ohanador - Associate Practitioner
- Avinash Thomas - Senior Clinical Trials Assistant
- Matt Ellis - Digital Pathology Technical Service Manager
- Michelle Watson - Cellular Pathology Research and Service Development Operations Manager
- Monette Lopez - Cellular Pathology Specialist Biomedical Scientist
- Professor Gareth Thomas - Professor of Experimental Pathology
- Dr Hannah Markham - Consultant Histopathologist
How can staff get in touch?
- Professor Gareth Thomas (Research Academic Lead)- g.thomas@soton.ac.uk
- Dr Hannah Markham (SRCH Clinical Lead)- hannah.markham@uhs.nhs.uk
- Michelle Watson (Cellular Pathology Research and Service Development Operations Manager)- michelle.watson@uhs.nhs.uk
- General enquiries- SRCH@uhs.nhs.uk