XXII Annual Meeting of the Italian Group for Ultrastructural Pathology SIAPEC - GIPU

The Italian Group for Ultrastructural Pathology, GIPU, is a section of the Italian Society for Anatomical Pathology and Cytopathology, SIAPEC, and belongs to the Electron Microscopy Working Group, EMWG of the European Society of Pathology. GIPU collects Italian pathologists utilizing transmission and scanning electron microscope (EM) to investigate subcellular alterations which cannot be demonstrated by other morphological techniques such as light microscopy, confocal laser scanning microscopy, and immunohistochemistry in diagnostic and experimental pathology. ‘‘The Big Eye’’ as it was called the electron microscope in the 1960s and 1970s. By the mid-1980s, however, the green glow of the electron microscope was partially off: The use of electron microscopy in diagnostic histopathology has declined significantly in recent years, largely as a result of advances in immunocytochemistry and molecular techniques. However, EM remains an important diagnostic tool in several well-defined areas of diagnostics and largely employed in many fields of experimental pathology. Consequently, there is still a need for EM services and labs. The generation of EM images requires highly skilled and specialised scientific staff; the current workforce with these skills is ageing and there is a suspicion that new staff are not being trained to take over their role. GIPU is still devoted to organize training school in EM dedicated to young pathologists and researchers promoting knowledges in the innovative EM methods and techniques. We would like to acknowledge Professor Elisabetta Falcieri to kindly host this XXII Annual Meeting of GIPU in the beautiful Urbino. The scientific program reflects nearly all the main topics in diagnostic and experimental pathology focusing on neuromyopathology, storage diseases, ciliary dyskinesia, pediatric and reproductive system pathology. Eighteen oral communications will give the opportunity to young ultrastructural pathologists to discuss together and with expert pathologists.

Giovanna Cenacchi, GIPU Coordinator