National Pathology Week (NPW) is our annual celebration of pathology, when we highlight the important contribution pathologists make to healthcare. Working in partnership with pathologists and laboratory scientists, our programme of events and activities aims to engage people of all ages, and improve public awareness and understanding of how pathologists and scientists diagnose disease.
We welcome pathology-related events and activities of all sizes, and various formats (including online!), in our nationwide programme – we’ve got lots of ideas and free resources to help with planning and delivering great activities.
National Pathology Week 2024
National Pathology Week (NPW) 2024 will run from 4 - 10 November. We'll be delivering NPW in collaboration with other members of the Pathology Alliance - the organisations who are part of the Alliance are listed below. Our theme for 2024 is 'Pathology is Vital'.
Events
Register your event
If you're running an event for National Pathology Week (NPW) in your workplace or community please register it here.
Promotional materials
We can provide a limited number of branded materials and information booklets for NPW event-organisers (UK events only). You can request these here. Please allow ten working days for delivery.
Attend an online event
There are already some great NPW events listed on our public events page, including the 'Pathology Myths and Misconceptions' online event (4 November), which is being delivered jointly by representatives of the Pathology Alliance organisations.
Don't miss our annual International Pathology Day virtual conference on 6 November - the topic this year is 'The rise of global antimicrobial resistance.'
On 8 November, the RCPath is collaborating with Roche Diagnostics UK to deliver a lunchtime webinar entitled 'From Bench to Bedside'.
British Society for Haematology (BSH) Webinars
During National Pathology Week, the BSH, in collaboration with the Limbic, will be hosting daily webinars on topics involving the laboratory/clinical interface. Delivered by both scientists and physicians, they highlight the importance of multidisciplinary teamwork for the diagnosis and management of haematological disease.
The seminars will be short and concise. They take place 5-6pm Monday 4th November to Thursday 7th. All welcome. Find out more here.
Pathology Alliance
- Association for Laboratory Medicine
- Association of Clinical Pathologists
- British Division of the International Academy of Pathology
- British In Vitro Diagnostics Association
- British Infection Association
- British Society for Haematology
- Institute of Biomedical Science
- Pathological Society
- The Royal College of Pathologists
Download the NPW logos and digital assets
National Pathology Week 2023
National Pathology Week (NPW) 2023 ran from 19 – 25 June. Our theme for 2023 was 'Pathologists and Patients'.
We highlighted the essential work pathologists and clinical scientists do to help patients and supported members and their teams to do the same around the UK.
College-led activities
- Our NPW Twitter competition challenged members and their teams to tweet a photo or video that summed up our theme - watch this space to find out who won!
- Monday 19 June - RCPath Book Club featuring 'Quackery: A Brief History of the Worst Ways to Cure Everything'
- Wednesday 21 June - Virtual Pathology Pub Quiz for Undergraduates
- Thursday 22 June - Art of Pathology Exhibition at the Annual Dinner drinks reception
- Friday 23 June - Virtual Veterinary Pathology Pub Quiz for Undergraduates (on Instagram)
- Saturday 24 June - Discovering Cells art-science workshop with Dr Lizzie Burns and histopathologist, Dr Stephanie Edwards.
Did you run something for NPW 2023?
If you did, please get in touch to let us know about your event, we're keen to capture as many member-led events from around the UK as possible in our NPW evaluation report. Share your NPW photos with us on Twitter - tag us @RCPath and use the hashtags #PathologyWeek and #PathologistsAndPatients.
Ideas for future NPW events
Here are some ideas of activities you can run during National Pathology Week.
- Set up a stall in your hospital or university to showcase what your team does. You can order free RCPath promotional materials here.
- Use our theme, 'Pathologists and Patients' to highlight the role of pathology teams in prevention, diagnosis and treatment. Check out our Facts and Figures page.
- Run a hands-on activity for your local community. Check out our free resources and activity packs here.
- Give a careers talk to your local schools or universities. Have a look at our 'how to' guide for more details.
- Run a lab tour
Become a Pathology Ambassador
We've teamed up with STEM Learning to provide our members with the opporutnity of signing up to the national STEM Ambassador scheme. More information is available in STEM Learning's handbook and leaflet provided below and on our Pathology Ambassadors page.
A look back at National Pathology Week 2022
National Pathology Week 2022 ran from 20 – 26 June. We moved the celebrations from November to June as part of the College's Diamond Jubilee. The theme was 'Pathology: past, present and future'.
Find out about the free NPW College-led events using the links below.
- Monday 20 June, 6.30-7.30pm BST - 'Pathology: past, present and future' panel discussion
- Tuesday 21 June - the College's 60th birthday and Foundation lecture by Professor Jonathan Van-Tam
- Wednesday 22 June, 6.30-8pm BST - virtual pub quiz for medical and biomedical undergraduates
- Thursday 23 June, 5-6pm BST - RCPath Book Club featuring Stuck by Professor Heidi J. Larson
- Friday 24 June, 5.30-7pm BST - virtual pub quiz for veterinary undergraduates
- Saturday 25 June, 11am-12pm BST - Family pathology-inspired origami workshop with Dr Lizzie Burns
