Pathological Anatomy (MEDS-04/A)

Pathological Anatomy is probably the branch of Medicine with the greatest translational vocation. By definition, it transfers molecular information to the macroscopic and microscopic morphological pictures of diseases, following the evolution of knowledge, in order to better define and treat diseases.

The university mission of the Section is therefore to train professionals in the knowledge of diseases with a precise practical-applicative orientation. 

The Pathological Anatomy Section includes two Full Professors, four Associate Professors and four Fixed-term Researchers.

The group covers the teaching of Pathological Anatomy in the various declinations of the different courses of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Dentistry, Medicine and Surgery, degree course in Obstetrics, degree courses in other locations (Bolzano and Potenza), in the numerous Specialization Schools and in Master courses, some of which are peculiar to Pathological Anatomy for the training of Pathologist Assistant and Autopsy and Forensic Techniques (master-assistantpathologist@unicatt.it; master-tecnicheautopticheforensi@unicatt.it).

The section carries out its professional teaching activity both on floor 4J of the A. Gemelli University Hospital, and at the University Institutes where there is a large sector room equipped with three dissection tables and a separate space to attend autopsy diagnostic findings.

Since April 2024, the Section Department has been recognized by the Ministry of Health as a reference center for the conservation and use of the bodies of the deceased (for information contact 06 3015.5926/4270 or write to: donazione.corpo@policlinicogemelli.it –  settorato.anatomiapatologica@pec.it). 

This intense teaching activity is necessarily associated with an equally intense basic and clinical-translational research activity in different areas of human pathology. In particular, the section presents recognized excellences for gastrointestinal, gynecological, haematological and endocrine-neuroendocrine oncological pathology. The aim of our research is to dissect the molecular mechanisms associated with specific anatomical/pathological/morphological pictures in order to define markers of disease prognosis and therapeutic response.

The methods used include the most relevant morphological techniques, both the classical and the innovative ones for the identification of gene sequences on tissue in order to transfer the molecular data to the cytological/histological picture of the disease.

The Section is home to the IRCCS Immunohistochemistry Facility with application and development of immunological detection techniques on tissue of different antigens and develops and applies molecular diagnostic techniques for oncological disease.