International Pathology Day

Pathology in an era of personalised medicine

Wednesday 11 November, 9.45–15.00 approximately (GMT)

Join us at our virtual conference on International Pathology Day as we celebrate the vital contributions of pathology professionals, laboratory scientists and healthcare professionals around the world. This year’s theme, ‘Pathology in an era of personalised medicine’, will explore the evolving role of personalised medicine in a range of pathology specialties.

This special event will be chaired by the President of the Royal College of Pathologists, Dr Bernie Croal. We are also delighted to welcome Professor Ahmad Abou Tayoun, Chair of the WHO Technical Advisory Group on Genomics, as our esteemed guest. Dr Tayoun will be in conversation with Professor Sarah Coupland, President-Elect of the College.

The event will feature speakers from around the world and, for the first time, will include a debate chaired by Professor Yousuf Karim, RCPath Country Advisor for Qatar. The debate, titled ‘Personalised medicine is a luxury available only to the global minority’, will explore one of the most pressing issues in modern healthcare.

What we'll explore

The virtual conference will focus on the following areas:

• the future trajectory of personalised medicine over the next 5–10 years
• showcasing current developments within pathology in the field of personalised medicine
• global experiences of integrating genomics into healthcare systems to support more equitable, patient-centred care
• enhancing equitable access to genomic knowledge and technologies for global health, especially in resource-poor countries
• impact on training and education in an era of personalised medicine.

Live virtual debate

'Personalised medicine is a luxury available only to the global minority'

Is personalised medicine transforming global healthcare – or widening the gap?

Join us for a lively and thought-provoking debate on the proposition: ‘Personalised medicine is a luxury available only to the global minority’. Two teams of leading experts will present opposing viewpoints, exploring the realities, challenges and potential inequities that shape access to precision medicine across both developing and developed countries.

Bringing imaginative and forward-looking perspectives, this session promises to challenge assumptions and spark discussion. Following the debate, audience members will be invited to cast their vote for the team they believe presented the most compelling case.

Poster competition

Innovations in pathology for personalised patient care

Reflecting this year's International Pathology Day (IPD) theme, 'Pathology in an era of personalised medicine', we invite individuals and teams from around the world to submit posters showcasing innovations in pathology for personalised patient care across all specialties. Highlight work, research, or innovations that you are proud of and would like to share with an international audience.

Prizes
Winning posters will be featured in our post-event blog celebrating International Pathology Day 2026 and will receive:

• First prize: £250
• Second prize: £100
• Third prize: Complimentary registration for the International Pathology Day 2027 virtual conference

All submitted posters will be displayed digitally on the College website, like those from past years 2024 and 2025. Winners will be announced at the virtual conference for International Pathology Day on 11 November 2026.

Before creating your poster in one of the IPD branded poster templates, please ensure that you have read the terms and conditions carefully and in full. A summary is provided below, and the full terms and conditions can be accessed further down the page.

The terms and conditions in summary

Each entry must be created using an IPD branded poster template, which can be downloaded here and accompanied by the following information: 

1. The corresponding author(s) name(s), and email address(es) and contact phone number(s). However, if it is a submission of work created by multiple authors, 1 person must be nominated to be the main point of contact and to take receipt of the prize should the entry win.
2. The title of the poster
3. A 2–3 minute selfie-style video describing:

• what work is described in the poster
• why you undertook this work
• what was special about this work
• how the findings have influenced future practice.

Please read the poster competition's terms and conditions in full, available here:

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