This group focuses on, and explores cellular pathogenesis. Members are expert in the morphological aspects of disease, gene and protein expression in health and in disordered function e.g. cancer, inflammation and trauma. Members of the group play a large and important role in the ongoing teaching programmes across the medical and dental schools, and play an integral role in the research of groups in Pathology as well as other centres.  Major links exist with the following groups: gastroenterology, cancer, neurosciences, cutaneous and child health.

The teaching portfolio of the Pathology group extends across many courses in the undergraduate medical and dental curriculum, as well as intercalated and postgraduate teaching. In particular, the intercalated BSc in Experimental Pathology is very successful, both academically and scientifically, providing students with opportunity to undertake a six month research project, working with experienced investigators, many producing publications of high standard from this work.

The Pathology Core Facility is part of the group, providing histopathological expertise and support for individuals and research groups across the College. They provide facilities for histopathological research and perform a wide range of techniques for researchers as a service.

Histopathology researchers investigate a wide range of disorders, with renowned expertise in gastrointestinal stromal tumours (Prof R Feakins), gastrointestinal motility disorders (Prof JE Martin), lung pathology (Prof M Sheaff), urological tumours (Prof SI Baithun), lymphoreticular pathology (Dr M Calaminici and Dr Rivzi), gynaecological pathology (Dr N Singh) and dematopathology (Prof Cerio). Many of these investigators act as tertiary referral experts both for their clinical and research expertise.

Molecular Haematology has a broad clinical base in non-malignant haematology that supports both clinical/translational and basic research. It has an acknowledged reputation in autoimmune thrombocytopenia (ATP) for which Prof Newland and Dr Provan are world renowned pioneers and experts on novel therapies. The department is the only tertiary referral centre in the UK and has links with similar units in North America and Europe. The ITP Registry is run from the Department and has links with over a third of the Trusts in England. The haematologists in these units provide clinical details and DNA on all new patients with ATP.  Studies centre on the epidemiology of the disease, and using DNA study in parallel polymorphisms associated with diagnosis, prognosis and response to treatment. The centre has led a number of novel therapeutic studies in the treatment of autoimmune disease and over the last 2 years has pioneered the use of thrombopoietin agonists acting as the lead centre in the UK. The ATP research has led to the development of expertise in Flow Cytometry and Dendritic cell biology and a cross Institute interest in autoimmune disorders.

The platelet theme of the department is extended into the more general area of haemostasis and thrombosis with projects in gene therapy for haemophilia, the molecular pathology of von Willebrand’s Disease, the link between cancer and thrombosis and the mechanisms of inhibitor development in Haemophilia A. A gene therapy trial for using the adeno-associated virus for the transfer of factor IX for Haemophilia B has recently been approved in conjunction with colleagues at UCL. More wider population studies in the epidemiology of thrombosis are being carried out with the William Harvey Institute.

The close ties to forensic pathology has increased under the guidance of Dr Denise Syndercombe-Court, whose academic standing in the field of Forensic Genetics has become well respected. With molecular developments and continues to grow. She is the sole UK representative  in the European DNA Profiling consortium and a current holder of an EU grant looking at the future on SNP typing in forensic identification. The groups current research utilizes SNPs and STRs to investigate population differences in autosomal, X and Y chromosome and MtDNA, in order to provide population models for intelligence purposes. Innovative models in artificial SNP production are also being used to develop tools for unknown mixture analysis. The ability to investigate developed markers in low volumes has required the development of high sensitive methodology which will have benefits in much wider research areas.

The cardiovascular biomechanics group adopts a wide-ranging approach towards the study of the structure-function relationships of soft tissues, from cell and developmental biology, biomechanics to pathology. This is important to improve the compatibility and durability of vascular prostheses and stents a challenging area due to the complex hierarchical structure of soft tissue. Group members have gained a considerable reputation in developing in vitro  and in vivo methodologies for dynamic testing of tissues such as articular cartilage, blood vessels, skin, ligaments/tendons under both compression and tension, as well as structural proteins, such as collagen and elastin. The group has also considerable experience in developing novel techniques to assess biomechanical behaviour. One such method involves the non-invasive estimation of arterial compliance and endothelial function. properties which are now known to be among the strongest independent prognostic indicators for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.