Alex Hardgrave

Alex Hardgrave is the Clinical Pathology Manager at the Mary Lyon Centre at MRC Harwell. His day job involves managing a hospital lab for research, providing clinical-style high throughput analysis of blood and urine samples for researchers across the UK and beyond. As well as high throughput analysis, the lab also provides bespoke flow cytometry services and immunoassays.

He completed a PhD in Immunology at Lancaster University in collaboration with the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, studying the effects of certain specialised antibiotics on the immune system. Principally focusing on macrophages in both a murine and cell model, this developed his expertise in in-vivo and in-vitro immunology research.

Since completing his PhD, Alex has worked primarily in the academic research environment, in areas ranging from cancer to parasitic worm infections. He has been at the MLC for just over three years, during which time he has led the teaching and development of the Lab Skills courses at Advance. He uses his diverse experience to ensure lab skills course attendees receive high-quality training in the most up to date lab practices.