Applied Molecular Pathology Course

Description

The Applied Molecular Pathology Course (AMPC) addresses the application of molecular concepts and techniques in the practice of contemporary diagnostic cancer pathology. The course uses hereditary colon cancer, lung cancer and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma as exemplars. Each of these tumour types is the focus of separate 1.5-hour long sessions that take place over a day-and-a-half. The course is conducted remotely using Zoom and other online learning resources and each session is designed and led by a pathology subspecialist and a molecular diagnostics clinical scientist. A variety of learning activities, including brief didactic teaching, team-based problem-solving exercises based on clinical cases and supplementary on-line materials covering basic genetic concepts and genetic laboratory techniques, are featured in the course. Learners will spend most of the time in small, collaborative breakout groups working through clinical cases that highlight the clinicopathological indications, application, interpretation and trouble-shooting of commonly used molecular assays.

* Events are in Eastern (EST/EDT) time.

Objectives:

• Invoke molecular tests appropriately based upon clinical and/or pathological indications

• Become familiar with pre-analytical considerations that can impact the use of tissue samples for commonly used molecular tests, including DNA sequencing, PCR-based tests, RNA-based tests and fluorescence in situ hybridization

• Diagnose hereditary cancer based on the appropriate application of diagnostic and screening tests

• Ascertain the likely significance of DNA sequence variants using multiple criteria, including variant type and information from publicly accessible online databases

• Incorporate findings from morphological, immunophenotypic and molecular tests into a unified, clinically actionable report