Histology services

You can expect to produce high-quality microscopic sections of frozen, paraffin and resin embedded material using the equipment in the Histology Facility.

SBMS users

Our staff train research personnel, honours and postgraduate students in histological techniques. If you are a new user, your access will be supervised until we are confident that you can use the facility independently. You can book to use the facility 8am - 4pm, Monday to Friday. Once your are able to use the facility independently, you can book to use it anytime.

External users

Our services are available to all UQ staff and students and to external Institutions on a user-pays system, 8am to 4pm, Monday to Friday. Professional services, sectioning and staining can be provided by our highly qualified staff by prior arrangement and contract, subject to the availability of resources.

Fees

Please refer to our Services Price List and discuss your needs with us prior to submitting histological samples for processing. This will help us to plan and assess your project properly.

Terms and conditions for all users

Use of our services and equipment is subject to compliance with our terms and conditions.

Booking information

You will be able to make bookings online when you have completed the Histology Facility Induction. Book online at least 12 hours prior to using the facility. If the booking is approved, you will receive an email confirming the approval, or if it must be declined, you will receive an email informing you of the reason and suggesting another time. Please follow these instructions for using the booking system.

Usage requirements and conditions

Use of the Histology Facility by any users is subject to:

Staff

Dr. Darryl Whitehead

Research Manager of the Histology Facility in the School of Biomedical Sciences. Interests include the sensory biology of sharks rays, and fishes with a primary focus on electroreception and the histology of ampullary organs. He has 27 years of extensive experience in studying the histology of animal sensory organs with specific interest in ampullary organs and electrical signals within aquatic environments. He possesses a vast knowledge in histology techniques and is responsible for the day to day running of the Histology Facility and its instrumentation. He interviews and inducts all new clients, helping to work out how the best use of the facilities’ equipment. Darryl works on the design of new biological sample processing procedures, and also collaborates on projects in microbiology, cell biology, zoology and botany.

Ms Erica Mu

Histology Facility Assistant at the School of Biomedical Sciences. Currently completing her doctorate research degree investigating stress pathways in the rat brain and the effects of central noradrenaline on neuron function and morphology in the amygdala. She has 5 years of histology experience.

Mr Arnault Gauthier

Histology Facility Assistant at the School of Biomedical Sciences. Currently completing his doctorate research on the morphology of the electrosensory system in sharks, rays and catfish. He has four years of Histology experience.

Mr James Dodson

Histology Facility Assistant at the School of Biomedical Sciences. James is specialised in working with venomous and poisonous organisms. He has two years of histology experience mostly working with wax embedded samples and stains including H&E, Masson’s trichrome, Oil red O, Goldner’s trichrome, PAS and others.

Ms Lisa Walton

Histology Facility Assistant at the School of Biomedical Sciences. Currently working in histology with a focus on the development of electrosensitive orders in elasmobranchs. She has two years on histology experience.

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