Congress: science, the profession and industry

The biennial Biomedical Science Congress is now just a matter of weeks away. The event is packed with professional and scientific content that there is something for everyone on the extensive programme, which this year has been extended to cover four days (Sunday to Wednesday). The Sunday programme has been designed to have universal appeal, and nowhere is this more apparent than in its coverage of molecular pathology, which progressively has transcended the conventional boundaries of the pathology disciplines into which the main Congress scientific programme is divided. So, on the Sunday of Congress there will be the opportunity to learn more about molecular technologies and the role of the laboratory in cancer genetics and the genomics of infectious diseases. All in all, a cutting-edge start to the main scientific story that will unfold over the next three days, as the following review illustrates.

Investment in learning and development

An investment in learning and development exactly sums up Congress. Change is happening in pathology at a pace not previously encountered, and many biomedical scientists are extending their knowledge and skills beyond their own specialty as services and departments merge and technologies are shared across disciplines. This is a challenge for those needing to broaden their skills and knowledge, and also for those who are now faced with developing and delivering a programme of retraining to already experienced scientists. This is where Congress ticks so many boxes. Over four days there will be approximately 300 lectures across 12 different subjects and specialties. This is science like nowhere else, so let’s go through the choices on offer.