A SCIENTIST is leading a group of highly-trained volunteers to test thousands of patient samples a day for coronavirus.

Cancer Research UK scientist Dominic Rothwell is one of around 30 volunteers working at a mega-lab in Alderley Park, Cheshire, to test patient samples for the killer virus.

The Cancer Research UK volunteers are involved in part of the testing process – including debagging nose and throat swabs delivered daily from across the UK, extracting genetic material from the samples, and running tests which identify presence of the Covid-19.

Blackburn man Mr Rothwell usually works on ground-breaking cancer discoveries at Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute’s laboratories, but is now putting his expertise to use in the national and global effort to beat the coronavirus.

The 49-year-old said: “I’m proud to be playing my part in the fight against coronavirus.

“I’m normally based at Alderley Park, so I’m very familiar with the location and the facilities on site.

“The techniques and approaches used by cancer researchers for decades are the same disciplines being used to track, understand and defeat this virus – so when the opportunity came up, I knew I wanted to get involved.

“Research on cancer is still our priority, but the virus must be tackled too. By helping the global effort of tackling Covid-19, we hope we can get back to beating cancer as soon as possible.”

The Lighthouse Lab at Alderley Park is part of what is the biggest network of diagnostic testing facilities in British history, testing coronavirus samples from drive-through test sites across the country. Similar mega-labs have been set up in Glasgow and Milton Keynes.

As well as volunteers, Cancer Research UK has also loaned specialist equipment to the Alderley Park Lighthouse Lab. This includes 17 polymerase chain reaction machines, which are used in cancer research to examine DNA in tumour samples.

Mr Rothwell added: “Coronavirus has left the whole world in unchartered waters. Cancer doesn’t go away during or after Covid-19, but I’m incredibly proud of our community of researchers who have been very quick to respond to the crisis, using their kit, skills and talent to support the response.”