The Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (RCPA)

This week, RCPA held its State AGM in Tasmania, with presentations from our local Fellows including Tasmanian State Councilor Dr Archna Sharma and Dr Adriana Le Thanh-Thao, who talked about jack jumper ants, a species of venomous ant native to Australia, most commonly found in Tasmania. Believe it or not... jack jumper ants, which are only 1 cm in size, can jump as high as 7 to 8 cm and cause allergic reactions and anaphylaxis similar to bees and wasps! RCPA members, don’t forget to register for your State AGM, where you can connect with local colleagues and friends, and maybe even learn a thing or two about your local native critter! Next stop, South Australia on 24 October, followed by New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory and Western Australia in November. Register for your State AGM: https://lnkd.in/gCcKyixT

Colorectal endometriosis may be an incidental finding, identified in surgical specimens resected for other indications, or it may be symptomatic, most commonly producing pelvic pain, gastrointestinal bleeding (overt or occult), or bowel obstruction. Importantly, it may be identified in patients who do not have a known history of endometriosis and where imaging studies, endoscopic, gross pathological, and histopathological findings suggest another disease process. This study by Miller et al, published in Pathology journal, investigates the clinicopathological features of colorectal endometriosis with a particular emphasis on the features seen in cases with colonic mucosal involvement. It concludes that endometriosis is an important mimic of other conditions and that endometriosis involving the large intestine may be unexpected and easily missed on biopsy. Read the #OpenAccess article in Pathology ➡️ https://lnkd.in/gWRgR9Qj

RCPA’s local AGM season has officially kicked off! We had our first State AGM in Queensland last week, with over 30 Fellows and Trainees joining us in-person. We also had presentations from RCPA President A/Prof Trishe Leong and CEO Dr David Andrews, who both shared the future plans for the College and how we'll be implementing RCPA's Strategic Plan. Next stop, Tasmania!

Review article discussing the pathophysiology, aetiology and diagnostic work-up for non-cirrhotic hyperammonaemia, including a framework for investigation with resources for emergency, general and intensive care physicians and chemical pathologists. Read the #OpenAccess article in Pathology ➡️ https://lnkd.in/ggDHgYtH Image reproduced with permission from Häberle et al. https://lnkd.in/gyqg-zpK Tristan Rutland

Showcase your research at Pathology Update 2025! Applications are open for the Trainee oral presentations and e-poster prizes. This year, we’re celebrating excellence in diagnosis, and we’re keen to see our Trainees take centre stage to present their research. Taking part in the Trainee prizes is the perfect opportunity to highlight your research and work, hone your presenting skills and receive feedback from peers. The deadline for submissions is 7 November 2024…apply now! https://lnkd.in/gsDBSKt8 #PathUpdate2025

Join us for International Pathology Day 2024! 🔬 International Pathology Day is taking place on 6 November 2024, an annual awareness day that aims to celebrate pathologists and scientists and the pivotal role pathology plays in healthcare. This year, we are discussing the transformative role of pharmacogenomics (PGx) and its groundbreaking effects on healthcare. 🏥💊 The RCPA is hosting an event on 6 November to celebrate International Pathology Day. We'll be joined by leading experts in pharmacogenomic testing, who will discuss what's on the horizon for PGx testing, its rapid adoption around the world and how it is transforming patient care. We'll also hear from a patient firsthand about how pharmacogenomic testing helped to improve their treatment. Join us to celebrate International Pathology Day online or in-person at the RCPA Sydney office from 9.30am to 12pm AEDT. Registrations are open! RSVP now ➡️ https://rcpa.me/IPD2024

The RCPA is delighted to announce the winners of our RCPA Foundation grants and awards for 2024. 🎉 This year, the RCPA Foundation has awarded AU$288,000 in funding to support research and education in pathology. Congratulations to all the recipients of these awards. We look forward to seeing the findings and outcomes of their research and how it will benefit patient care in the future. See the full list of our award recipients and details about their research projects on the RCPA website: https://lnkd.in/g2FFm7HV

Infections caused by vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) are common. Real-time PCR assays targeting vanA and vanB facilitate screening of patients in healthcare settings to limit the risk of dissemination, especially among those at high-risk of infection or with limited treatment options. This study assessed the performance of a new molecular PCR assay (VRE BD) for the detection of vanA/B in clinical isolates of enterococci, adapted for the BD Max System (Becton Dickinson), against a traditional real-time PCR assay based on the LightCycler 2.0 platform (Roche, VRE RO). The authors found a high level of analytical sensitivity and specificity (≥99.0%) for both genes when testing suspensions derived from blood agar, and concluded that the technical simplicity, short turnaround time and robustness of VRE BD makes it suitable for reflex testing. In addition, the format developed for the BD Max platform has potential application for reflex testing for other molecular targets of clinical importance, such as the detection and typing of emerging microorganisms of public health significance, and the detection of the broad spectrum of plasmid-mediated antibiotic resistance genes. Read the #OpenAccess article in Pathology ➡️  https://lnkd.in/gTAn9H8J Ryan Pratama Gismin Jose Narinder Bhardwaj Chinmoy Mukerjee Tristan Rutland

Applications are open for RCPA’s Pathology Education Outreach Grants. RCPA is offering grants to pathologists or pathology Trainees from developing countries* to attend Pathology Update 2025 in Melbourne from 21 to 23 February! 🌏 Successful applicants will receive complimentary flights, accommodation and registration to attend the three-day scientific meeting. Applications close on 14 October 2024. Apply now 👉 https://lnkd.in/g9ps6X84 *Countries include Bhutan, East Timor, Fiji, Indonesia, Kiribati, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga Vanuatu and Vietnam.

Three cheers for our volunteers! 🎉🎉🎉 Our Fellows and Trainees were busy last month waving the RCPA flag at various careers events held at UNSW, the University of Sydney and Curtin University, promoting a career in pathology to medical students and junior doctors. The events included interactive workshops, Q&As and presentations from Fellows and Trainees, where they shared their personal journeys into medicine and why they chose pathology as their career. Thank you to our members who volunteer their time to promote pathology as a career to our future generation of pathologists... 🌟