An Exhibition within the atrium of the Brunel, showcasing our staff in the work environment. Photos were captured Kian Swainston and Carla Mabb, UWE Bristol Photography students.
HLA Typing, Serum Screening and Renal Crossmatching
Full HLA types are determined for both recipients of organ transplants and potential organ donors. The laboratory offers comprehensive serum screening of potential transplant recipients for HLA antibodies. The results, together with information on HLA sensitisation events such as blood transfusion, pregnancies and previous transplants, aid in selecting patients for transplant. Finally donor organs are crossmatched against recipient serum to confirm compatibility prior to transplant.
HLA Typing for Drug Hypersensitivities
Screening for HLA-B*57:01 which is associated with hypersensitivity to the drug abacavir, used in HIV treatment, is offered by the laboratory.
HLA Typing for Disease Associations
Some HLA types have specific disease associations, the most common are given below. Whilst the laboratory is able to offer screening for these HLA types, it is important to remember that these are associated with, but not diagnostic for, the disease in question.
| HLA Type | Associated Diseases |
|---|---|
| HLA-B27 | Ankylosing Spondylitis, Uvieitis |
| HLA-B51(5) | Behcets Syndrome |
| HLA-A29 | Birdshot Chorioretinopathy (Birdshot Uveitis) |
| DQ6(DQB1*06:02) | Narcolepsy |
| HLA-DQ2,DQ8(3) | Coeliac Disease |
GMC number: 1449543
Year & location of first qualification: 1970 Sheffield University
Specialty: Urology
Clinical interests: These included the assessment and management of Female and Male Lower urinary tract conditions and diseases such as urinary incontinence and prostatic obstruction.
Administrator: Karen Evely Bristol Urological Institute
Secretary phone number: 0117 414 7942
Extensive research record with, over 700 publications and more than 62,000 citations of papers of which I am an author and an “h” number of 104. Currently involved in research and teaching as well as health improvement programmes for NHS England (Chair of Bladder Working Group) and Bladder and Bowel Confidence (Associate Director) the Bristol Health Partners Health Integration Team
.
Life or honorary member of the major urological organisations worldwide.
GMC number: 7090116
Year & location of first qualification: 2010, UCL Medical School
Specialty: Respiratory
Clinical interests: Airways disease (asthma and COPD), inducible laryngeal obstruction, cough, breathlessness.
Secretary: Lata Luchmun
Dr Higbee graduated from UCL medical school and has been based in the Southwest since then. He completed a PhD at Southmead Hospital and the University of Bristol examining whether having reduced lung function and chronic lung disease causes disease in other organs. He set up the service testing for inducible laryngeal obstruction using continuous laryngoscopy with exercise and provocation. He is a member of the subspecialist airways team that prescribes biologics for those with severe asthma and evaluates endobronchial valve therapy for those with severe emphysema. He is the clinical lead for pulmonary rehabilitation (known locally as the Lung Exercise and Education Programme).
GMC number: 6156511
Year & location of first qualification: 2007, University of Bristol
Specialty: Plastic Surgery
Clinical interests: Skin cancer
Secretary: Emily Thatcher
Secretary phone number: 0117414 7608
Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of England
GMC number: 7021014
Year & location of first qualification: 2008
Specialty: Trauma & Orthopaedics
Clinical interests: General Trauma and Knee Surgery
Secretary: Julia Hirst and Vicki Morrissey-Stocks (Elective) Nicki Leigh (Trauma)
Secretary phone number: 0117 4141624/0117 4141627
Miss Nicola Blucher completed her pre-clinical Undergraduate Medical training at The University of Oxford and clinical Undergraduate Medical training at The Royal Free and University College London. Her specialist orthopaedic training was complete in the North West Thames Deanery, London.
Miss Blucher has completed fellowship training in Knee surgery in Melbourne, Auckland and Bristol. She also spent 6 months completing a Trauma fellowship at Waikato Hospital in New Zealand.
Her elective practice focuses on Knee surgery including sports injuries of the knee, patella instability and the management of early and advanced osteoarthritis including joint replacements.
Miss Nicola Blucher is a member of the British Orthopaedic Association, British Association for Surgery of the Knee, British Patellofemoral Society and British Orthopaedic Sports Trauma and Arthroscopy Association.
GMC number: 7177272
Year & location of first qualification: Imperial College London 2011
Specialty: Respiratory Medicine
Clinical interests: General Respiratory Medicine, Lung Cancer, Pleural Disease and EBUS
Secretary: Louise Brennan
Secretary phone number: 0117 414 2016
Email: Respiratoryadmin@nbt.nhs.uk
Dr Helen McDill has been a Consultant in Thoracic Medicine at Southmead Hospital since 2022, having completed her registrar training in the South West and gained CCT in respiratory and general medicine in 2022.
She has a clinical interest in pleural disease, lung cancer and EBUS having undertaken an intervention fellowship in Plymouth. She has co-authored a number of publications in these areas.
Dr McDill is a member of the British Thoracic Society (BTS) and currently on the BTS Tobacco dependency guideline group and the British Thoracic Oncology Group (BTOG) having previously been a respiratory trainee on the Steering Committee.
GMC Number: 6076782
Year & location of qualification: London, 2003
Specialty: Urology
Clinical Interests: Benign andrology & penile cancer
Secretary: Becky Champness
Professional memberships: BAUS, ESSM, EAU
GMC number: 6112888
Year & location of first qualification: 2004, University of Cambridge
Specialty: Trauma & Orthopaedics
Clinical interests: Trauma, Pelvic Trauma, Orthoplastics
Secretary: Vicki Morrissey-Stocks/Julia Hirst
Secretary phone number: 0117 4141624/0117 4141627
