Join Dr Matt Clarke to hear about the advances in genomic testing and how this is helping improve the accuracy of diagnoses in pathology

Pathology is one of the most cutting-edge and fast-paced specialties in all of healthcare. We are now in the era of molecular pathology and each year, there are significant advances in our understanding of the different mechanisms of disease and in particular, the genetic features. Genomic testing has had a considerable impact by helping to improve the accuracy of our diagnoses, and ultimately benefit our patients. In this webinar you will hear about some of these significant advances!
 
You will hear a summary of the genetic changes underlying disease, and learn about the variety of different errors or mistakes that can happen to different parts of our genome. You will hear about some of the different molecular tests that pathologists and scientists have in their tool kits to identify these genomic changes, when and how we use them, and what they can tell us about particular diseases, including cancer.
 
We will also discuss why it is so important to identify the genetic changes underlying different diseases in terms of how we target these changes with existing treatments, but also how this can be useful for drug development, and the benefits of such data for research to support further advances.
 
This webinar will be delivered by Dr Matt Clarke who is a senior specialty registrar in diagnostic neuropathology and the RCPath lead for foundation and undergraduate pathology; during the talk, he will use his experience of using molecular testing in the diagnosis of brain tumours and will show you some cases where it has made a huge difference to the outcome for patients. The webinar will be chaired by Professor Angharad Davies.

This event is being run jointly by The Royal College of Pathologists, the University of Manchester Pathology Society, ICSM Pathology Society and the Pathology Subcommittee of UCL Medical Society.

Meet the speakers

Dr Matthew Clarke
Matthew is a specialty registrar and NIHR Clinical Lecturer in diagnostic neuropathology based at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children for his clinical work, and the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) for his research. He undertook his medical training at Keele Medical School, originally choosing a career in surgery before changing to pathology. He completed a PhD in the molecular pathology of infant gliomas at the ICR. Matthew was Chair of the RCPath Trainees’ Advisory Committee from 2018-2023 and the Chair of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, Trainee Doctors’ Group (ATDG) from 2021-2024. Matthew is actively involved in different pathology societies, including being ‘Deputy Meetings Secretary’ of the BDIAP, a former Editor of ‘ACP news’ and the Trainee Representative for the British Neuropathological Society. He has been the recipient of awards for public engagement, research, and science communication. He featured in the Pathology Power List 2021. He is the current RCPath Undergraduate and Foundation Lead.

Professor Angharad Davies
Professor Angharad Davies is a clinical academic and honorary consultant medical microbiologist at Swansea University Medical School. She undertook her medical undergraduate training at St John's College, Cambridge and specialty training at the Royal Free Hospital, London. She is RCPath's Clinical Director for Publishing and Engagement.