ISSP 2026 is kindly sponsored by
UPDATE ON ABSTRACTS (09 September 2026)
Trainee abstracts that have been selected for Oral Presentations have just been added to the program.
All other submitted abstracts have been accepted as Poster Presentations.
Regarding size of poster: Poster must be PORTRAIT ORIENTATION and NO LARGER THAN A0 (84.1 × 118.9 cm)
Trainee abstracts that have been selected for Oral Presentations have just been added to the program.
All other submitted abstracts have been accepted as Poster Presentations.
Regarding size of poster: Poster must be PORTRAIT ORIENTATION and NO LARGER THAN A0 (84.1 × 118.9 cm)
ISSP 2026
Pathology Conference
09 and 10 October 2026
Salthill Hotel, Galway, Ireland
PROGRAM
Friday 09 October 2026
09:00 Registration, coffee, croissants.
09:15 Welcome
Session 1
09:30 Utopia or Dystopia? Pathology training without an exit exam, the Netherlands model
Marijke van Dijk, Utrecht, Netherlands.
10:00 Mimics of Idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease: Infection, immunodeficiency, ischaemia and iatrogenic disease
Shaun Walsh, Dundee.
10:30 Spitzoid melanocytic lesions
Eduardo Calonje, London.
11:00 Coffee, exhibitors, posters
Session 2
11:30 From microscope to bedside: Establishing a pathology led clinic
Laura Aalto, Galway
Danielle Costigan, Dublin
11:50 How a service model supported by specialist medical scientists helped address inequity of access to specialist perinatal pathology services
Brendan Fitzgerald, Cork
12:10 DIY IT & AI – Diagnosis, SNOMED coding, workload points, education...
Fred Mayall, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
12:35 Pathologists in leadership roles
Dermot Hughes, Health and Social Care Northern Ireland
1:00 LUNCH
Session 3
2:00 Trainee oral presentations
Special stains
TB or Not TB: Illuminating AFB with ZN, Auramine-O, Molecular Testing, and Oil Immersion
Nesa Samuel Karunadhas
Cytology
What Does EBUS Diagnose When It Isn’t Lung Cancer? The Diagnostic Spectrum of EBUS-TBNA
Jason Byrne
Dermpath
A Multifaceted Approach to the Diagnosis of Juvenile Xanthogranuloma in a 6 Month Old Infant
Andreea-Corina Ilie-Petrov
Breast
Correlation Between Radiological and Pathological Complete Response Following Neoadjuvant Treatment in Breast Cancer: A Retrospective Audit
Amna Amir Ali Musa
Gastro-intestinal tract
Appendiceal mucinous neoplasms: A national experience demonstrating the impact of referral for combined surgical and pathologic specialty assessment.
Rachel Lockhart
Retrospective analysis of Claudin 18.2 expression in 64 patients with advanced gastrointestinal peritoneal disease: a potential therapeutic target for high-grade appendiceal mucinous carcinoma
Colman Clarke
Urology
Intratubular Spread in Low-Grade Papillary Urothelial Carcinoma of the Renal Pelvis: A Diagnostic and Staging Challenge
Arooj Fatima
Spatial Characterisation of Macrophage and Lymphocyte Populations in Prostate Cancer Using Multiplex Immunofluorescence and Computational Pathology
Sara Dakir
3:30 Coffee, exhibitors, posters
Session 4
4:00 Trainee oral presentations
Gynae
An unusual and diagnostically challenging ovarian tumour in a 52 year old woman
Felcy Francis
Beyond BRCA: The role of Homologous Recombination Testing in High-Grade Tubo-Ovarian Carcinoma
Grainne O’Keeffe
Haempath
Indolent NK-Cell Lymphoproliferative Disorder of the Gastrointestinal Tract Presenting as Suspected Acute Appendicitis.
Helena Devenney
Targeting DNA Damage Response Pathways in Burkitt Lymphoma using PARP inhibitors
Eoghan O’Connor
Neuropathology
Lipid metabolism in human iPSC derived neural organoids: investigating SCD1/SCD5 mediated fatty acid desaturation
Victoria Kaplan
Technology & Innovation
Comparing Quantitative Pathology Results Across Four Whole-Slide Imaging Scanners
Ross Walsh
Integration of Laboratory Information Management Systems with Digital Pathology and Electronic Health Records: Clinical Risks, Challenges and Future Directions
Shane Eakins
Adding Dimension to Dissection: A Virtual Reality Cardiac Autopsy
May Almezen
5:30 AGM
7:00 Networking event for trainees and consultants
7:45 Drinks reception followed by Gala Dinner (Dress code: smart casual)
Saturday 10 October 2026
Session 5 Endocrine and Neuroendocrine Tumours
Sponsored by the British Division of the International Academy of Pathology
Dear Delegates,
To prepare for this session, please access PathoGate.net by clicking this link or scanning the QR code below.
This resource contains a few articles that might be of interest to you and highlight some essential topics.
Digital pathology cases are also provided to review in advance of the meeting.
During the session you can scan QR codes and look on your mobile device to see what your colleagues think about some of the cases. When you submit your answer the results button will show the answers of your peers as well as your own (green bars).
Pathology Conference
09 and 10 October 2026
Salthill Hotel, Galway, Ireland
PROGRAM
Friday 09 October 2026
09:00 Registration, coffee, croissants.
09:15 Welcome
Session 1
09:30 Utopia or Dystopia? Pathology training without an exit exam, the Netherlands model
Marijke van Dijk, Utrecht, Netherlands.
10:00 Mimics of Idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease: Infection, immunodeficiency, ischaemia and iatrogenic disease
Shaun Walsh, Dundee.
10:30 Spitzoid melanocytic lesions
Eduardo Calonje, London.
11:00 Coffee, exhibitors, posters
Session 2
11:30 From microscope to bedside: Establishing a pathology led clinic
Laura Aalto, Galway
Danielle Costigan, Dublin
11:50 How a service model supported by specialist medical scientists helped address inequity of access to specialist perinatal pathology services
Brendan Fitzgerald, Cork
12:10 DIY IT & AI – Diagnosis, SNOMED coding, workload points, education...
Fred Mayall, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
12:35 Pathologists in leadership roles
Dermot Hughes, Health and Social Care Northern Ireland
1:00 LUNCH
Session 3
2:00 Trainee oral presentations
Special stains
TB or Not TB: Illuminating AFB with ZN, Auramine-O, Molecular Testing, and Oil Immersion
Nesa Samuel Karunadhas
Cytology
What Does EBUS Diagnose When It Isn’t Lung Cancer? The Diagnostic Spectrum of EBUS-TBNA
Jason Byrne
Dermpath
A Multifaceted Approach to the Diagnosis of Juvenile Xanthogranuloma in a 6 Month Old Infant
Andreea-Corina Ilie-Petrov
Breast
Correlation Between Radiological and Pathological Complete Response Following Neoadjuvant Treatment in Breast Cancer: A Retrospective Audit
Amna Amir Ali Musa
Gastro-intestinal tract
Appendiceal mucinous neoplasms: A national experience demonstrating the impact of referral for combined surgical and pathologic specialty assessment.
Rachel Lockhart
Retrospective analysis of Claudin 18.2 expression in 64 patients with advanced gastrointestinal peritoneal disease: a potential therapeutic target for high-grade appendiceal mucinous carcinoma
Colman Clarke
Urology
Intratubular Spread in Low-Grade Papillary Urothelial Carcinoma of the Renal Pelvis: A Diagnostic and Staging Challenge
Arooj Fatima
Spatial Characterisation of Macrophage and Lymphocyte Populations in Prostate Cancer Using Multiplex Immunofluorescence and Computational Pathology
Sara Dakir
3:30 Coffee, exhibitors, posters
Session 4
4:00 Trainee oral presentations
Gynae
An unusual and diagnostically challenging ovarian tumour in a 52 year old woman
Felcy Francis
Beyond BRCA: The role of Homologous Recombination Testing in High-Grade Tubo-Ovarian Carcinoma
Grainne O’Keeffe
Haempath
Indolent NK-Cell Lymphoproliferative Disorder of the Gastrointestinal Tract Presenting as Suspected Acute Appendicitis.
Helena Devenney
Targeting DNA Damage Response Pathways in Burkitt Lymphoma using PARP inhibitors
Eoghan O’Connor
Neuropathology
Lipid metabolism in human iPSC derived neural organoids: investigating SCD1/SCD5 mediated fatty acid desaturation
Victoria Kaplan
Technology & Innovation
Comparing Quantitative Pathology Results Across Four Whole-Slide Imaging Scanners
Ross Walsh
Integration of Laboratory Information Management Systems with Digital Pathology and Electronic Health Records: Clinical Risks, Challenges and Future Directions
Shane Eakins
Adding Dimension to Dissection: A Virtual Reality Cardiac Autopsy
May Almezen
5:30 AGM
7:00 Networking event for trainees and consultants
7:45 Drinks reception followed by Gala Dinner (Dress code: smart casual)
Saturday 10 October 2026
Session 5 Endocrine and Neuroendocrine Tumours
Sponsored by the British Division of the International Academy of Pathology
Dear Delegates,
To prepare for this session, please access PathoGate.net by clicking this link or scanning the QR code below.
This resource contains a few articles that might be of interest to you and highlight some essential topics.
Digital pathology cases are also provided to review in advance of the meeting.
During the session you can scan QR codes and look on your mobile device to see what your colleagues think about some of the cases. When you submit your answer the results button will show the answers of your peers as well as your own (green bars).
09:30 Thyroid tumours
Ronald de Krijger, UMC Utrecht, Netherlands.
10:00 Pulmonary neuroendocrine tumours
Nils 't Hart. Department of Pathology, Isala Klinieken, Zwolle, Netherlands.
10:30 Gastro-intestinal neuroendocrine tumours
Anne Hoorens, Ghent University, Belgium.
11:00 Coffee, exhibitors, posters
Session 6
11:30 Neuropathology histology at autopsy for the general histopathologist
Michael Farrell, Dublin.
12:00 Cervical Screening Histology in the Era of HPV testing
Síne Phelan, Galway.
12:30 The benefits of AI-powered digital uropathology
Elizabeth Astall, North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust.
1:00 NETWORKING LUNCH
2:00 CLOSE
9 CPD credits (Approved by The Royal College of Pathologists)
Ronald de Krijger, UMC Utrecht, Netherlands.
10:00 Pulmonary neuroendocrine tumours
Nils 't Hart. Department of Pathology, Isala Klinieken, Zwolle, Netherlands.
10:30 Gastro-intestinal neuroendocrine tumours
Anne Hoorens, Ghent University, Belgium.
11:00 Coffee, exhibitors, posters
Session 6
11:30 Neuropathology histology at autopsy for the general histopathologist
Michael Farrell, Dublin.
12:00 Cervical Screening Histology in the Era of HPV testing
Síne Phelan, Galway.
12:30 The benefits of AI-powered digital uropathology
Elizabeth Astall, North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust.
1:00 NETWORKING LUNCH
2:00 CLOSE
9 CPD credits (Approved by The Royal College of Pathologists)
BURSARY AWARDS 2026
Attending the European Congress of Pathology 2026 in Stockholm as a second‑year trainee was an invaluable experience. The congress offered a unique chance to engage with advances across all areas of pathology, from molecular diagnostics to digital pathology and quality assurance. I was fortunate to receive an ECP bursary from the ISSP which allowed me to present a short oral presentation of my single‑centre audit on axillary management in post‑neoadjuvant breast cancer. Sharing this work gave me useful feedback from experienced breast pathologists and reinforced how audit can shape local practice. Beyond my own session, the scientific programme really enhanced my training. The plenary lectures and subspecialty meetings helped clarify emerging classification systems, biomarker reporting, and how genomics is being integrated into routine diagnostics. Just as valuable were the informal conversations with peers and senior pathologists, which offered practical advice on building an academic career, framing research questions, and managing the demands of early specialty training. Overall, the ECP deepened my understanding of modern pathology practice and highlighted the importance of lifelong learning and collaboration. I am grateful for the bursary support, which made this experience possible and has enabled me to continue developing my skills as a pathologist and my commitment to continuous professional development. Dr Ciara Brennan, bursary recipient.
Attending Manchester Pathology 2026 in June and presenting my poster was a really enjoyable and worthwhile experience. As a junior Histopathology SHO in Cork, it was my first opportunity to present my work at a meeting of this international scale, and I found it incredibly engaging and inspiring. The conference included a wide range of excellent talks. A particular highlight was Ian Roberts' talk on IgA nephropathy, which I found especially interesting for showcasing the evolving role of histopathology in prognosticating and guiding medical renal clinical management. Presenting my poster gave me the chance to discuss my project with other trainees and consultants and receive constructive feedback. It was also great to meet colleagues from different centres and hear about their experiences and research interests. I am very grateful to the ISSP for awarding me a bursary to support my attendance. As someone at the beginning of my training, experiences like this are incredibly valuable and has motivated me to become more involved in research. I came away from the conference with new ideas, an expanded professional network and renewed interest in academic pathology. I would highly recommend attending this event and applying to the ISSP bursary to fellow trainees. Dr Adrian Hayes, bursary recipient.
The ISSP has a remit to provide a forum to discuss and promote advancement and education in the discipline of histopathology on the Island of Ireland. Registered in Dublin, Ireland, under Company Registration Number 500586. A limited liability company being a company limited by guarantee not having a share capital.