Life sciences
Life science staff play a major role in the delivery of healthcare.
Whether they are helping couples with IVF or supporting doctors and other healthcare professionals in the diagnosis and treatment of disease, they are a crucial part of the team.
Roles in the life sciences can be divided into three areas:
- pathology - investigating the causes of illness and how it progresses; carrying out tests on tissue, blood and other samples from patients. Pathology plays a crucial role in helping doctors choose the best type of treatment for patients, and monitoring its effectiveness
- genetics - understanding the genetic components of illnesses.
- reproductive science - a rapidly developing field, creating life and providing other solutions to infertility.
Healthcare science teams in life sciences work in:
- hospital laboratories - including clinical pathology laboratories and laboratories in specialist hospitals
- the community - including clinics
- organisations such as NHS Blood and Transplant, and Public Health England