Welcome to the Discipline of Pathology

Improving health by understanding disease, through quality research and teaching.

Pathology is the scientific study of disease. The questions that interest us are:

• What causes disease?
• What are the mechanisms by which disease develops?
• What are the consequences of disease?

Without a clear understanding of the causes and mechanisms of disease there cannot be any effective treatment or prevention. It is the aim of pathology to provide us with this understanding. For many people the word pathology conjures up visions of autopsies with forensic scientists and pathologists helping in the solving of crimes, but forensic pathology is just a small part of pathology. Medically qualified pathologists are now principally involved in the diagnosis of disease from pieces of tissue taken from living patients - biopsies. They still perform autopsies but this now represents a very small part of their workload.

The discipline consists of medically qualified pathologists and of scientists who are all involved in teaching and research into the nature of disease. Together with the general staff and a large group of clinical and affiliate title holders at the Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science, the Hanson Institute, the Royal Adelaide Hospital, the Women's and Children's Hospital, and the Forensic Science Centre, the discipline provides a vibrant and supportive environment in which to study and undertake research into the scientific basis of disease.

Hoc in loco mors succurrere vivis gaudet
"In this place death comes joyfully to the aid of the living"