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 2025
NPW 2025 will run from 3–9 November. The theme for 2025 is 'Pathology Solutions'. We hope this theme inspires exciting events and discussions around innovation and new ideas in disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
RCPath parliamentary event
The RCPath will be delivering a high-profile event at the House of Commons on 4 November. Dr Simon Opher MP, is kindly sponsoring this important event, which will also bear the title ‘Pathology Solutions’. The event will offer a unique opportunity to communicate to parliamentarians and other key stakeholders how pathology services are working at the forefront of our health system, and how pivotal they will be to the successful implementation of the NHS 10-year health plan. The event is invitation only, please contact Demelza Barker if you have any questions.
International Pathology Day (IPD)
The RCPath’s IPD virtual conference on 5 November will celebrate the vital contributions of pathology professionals around the world. This year’s theme, ‘The global pathology workforce’, highlights the dedication and expertise of pathologists and laboratory scientists who are at the heart of healthcare systems across the world. Jim Campbell, Director of the Health Workforce Department at the World Health Organization (WHO), will open the event taking part in a conversation with Professor Peter Johnston, Vice President for Workforce and Corporate Engagement. Find out more and book your place.
Pathology Alliance online event
The College is also working in partnership with the Pathology Alliance to deliver an engaging online event called ‘Pathology Solutions: how tests help patients’ on 5 November at 6pm GMT. Speakers working in a variety of pathology specialties will present short, snappy talks on different pathology tests, from common tests such as Full Blood Count to tests that are less well known such as multiplex PCR tests for respiratory infections. This Zoom-based event will be chaired by Dr Suzy Lishman CBE and is open to all but might be of particular interest to undergraduates and upper secondary school students. Bookings will open soon here.
Undergraduate quiz
The College is running an online pathology quiz for UK and international undergraduates studying relevant degrees on 12 November at 2pm GMT. The event is being run as a collaboration between the College’s public engagement and international teams in the week after National Pathology Week and International Pathology Day. Bookings will open soon here.
Ways to get involved
Interested in hosting your own event for NPW 2025? Here are some ideas of activities you can run:
- Set up a stall in your hospital or university to showcase what your team does. You can order free RCPath promotional materials here.
- 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.
Downloadable NPW logos and graphics
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 previous years:
National Pathology Week 2024
National Pathology Week (NPW) 2024 ran from 4–10 November. Our theme for 2024 was 'Pathology is Vital'.
College-led activities
- 4 November - Online event: 'Pathology Myths and Misconceptions' - A panel of fascinating speakers for a special webinar explored, and dispelled, some of the most common myths about pathology.
- 6 November - Our annual conference: International Pathology Day virtual conference - This year the topic was 'The rise of global antimicrobial resistance.'
- 8 November - Lunctime webinar: 'From Bench to Bedside'. A RCPath collaboration with Roche Diagnostics UK. This free online event explored how greater collaboration between industry and academia can help accelerate frontline use of new diagnostic technologies. Watch the recording of this event here.
Pathology Alliance
We delivered NPW in collaboration with other members of the Pathology Alliance – the organisations who are part of the Alliance are listed below.
- Association of British HealthTech Industries (ABHI)
- 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
National Pathology Week 2023
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
- 19 June - RCPath Book Club featuring 'Quackery: A Brief History of the Worst Ways to Cure Everything'
- 21 June - Virtual Pathology Pub Quiz for Undergraduates
- 22 June - Art of Pathology Exhibition at the Annual Dinner drinks reception
- 23 June - Virtual Veterinary Pathology Pub Quiz for Undergraduates (on Instagram)
- 24 June - Discovering Cells art-science workshop with Dr Lizzie Burns and histopathologist, Dr Stephanie Edwards.
National Pathology Week 2022
NPW 2022 ran from 20–26 June. The theme was 'Pathology: past, present and future'.
We moved the celebrations from November to June as part of the College's Diamond Jubilee.
College-led activities:
- 20 June - 'Pathology: past, present and future' panel discussion
- 21 June - the College's 60th birthday and Foundation lecture by Professor Jonathan Van-Tam
- 22 June - virtual pub quiz for medical and biomedical undergraduates
- 23 June - RCPath Book Club featuring Stuck by Professor Heidi J. Larson
- 24 June - virtual pub quiz for veterinary undergraduates
- 25 June - Family pathology-inspired origami workshop with Dr Lizzie Burns
