Standing, left to right: Dr Lo Man Lai, Prof Ming Du (Research Officer, Cambridge), Prof Thomas Tousseyn (Leuven), Dr Pascale De Paepe (President, Belgian Working Group on Haematopathology), and Dr Anna Green (King’s College – EQA Officer).
Seated, left to right: Dr Sharon Barrans (HMDS Leeds), Prof Maria Calaminici (BLPG Chair), Dr Rebeca King (Mayo Clinic), Dr Hebah Ali (BLPG Secretary).

Highlights from Ghent Pathology 2025

Waffles, Warm Days, and World-Class Haematopathology

In June 2025, the beautiful city of Ghent provided the perfect setting for Ghent Pathology 2025, a fantastic three-day meeting co-hosted by the Belgian Society of Pathology (BSP), the British Division of the IAP (BDIAP), and the Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland (PathSoc).

The haematopathology session—organised by the British Lymphoma Pathology Group (BLPG)—was a particular highlight. We brought together a stellar line-up of speakers who filled the room and delivered truly thought-provoking talks.

A particular highlight of the congress was the Doniach Lecture, delivered by the esteemed Professor Ming-Qing Du(University of Cambridge), titled “Haematopathology: Morphology, Molecules, and Mechanisms.” His eloquent insights into lymphoma biology and translocations reminded us why we gather: to learn, to question, and to be inspired.

Haematopathology Session Highlights:

The sun was shining, the cobbled streets were buzzing, and delegates enjoyed the best of Belgian hospitality (and, of course, the occasional waffle). Despite a national strike just the day before our session, the organisers pulled off a flawless event—and our speakers all arrived and delivered right on cue. A huge thank you to the conference committee for their calm and expert coordination!

• Professor Ming-Qing Du (Cambridge, UK) our BLPG research officer kicked off the day offering deep insights into MYC translocations and the molecular underpinnings of aggressive B-cell lymphomas.
• Professor Becky King (Mayo Clinic, USA) gave a highly practical overview of the diagnostic process—from morphology and IHC to differentials and key entities—offering guidance that’s directly applicable to day-to-day reporting.
• Dr Sharon Barrans (HMDS, Leeds) took us through the evolving role of high-throughput sequencing (HTS), with an emphasis on how molecular techniques are used in real-world diagnostic pathways in the UK.
• Professor Thomas Tousseyn (Leuven, Belgium) presented a compelling talk on EBV-driven aggressive lymphomas, which sparked a lively and insightful discussion, initiated by Professor Stefan Dojcinov (Wales).
• Our session was rounded off with two excellent case presentations by Dr Pascale De Paepe and Dr Lo Man Lai, who shared complex high-grade lymphoma cases full of learning points for everyday practice.

Thank you to all our speakers, case presenters, and attendees. Your contributions made this a lively, insightful, and truly enjoyable event—full of the curiosity and collaboration that define the BLPG’s spirit.

✨ As we reflect on a fantastic meeting in Ghent, we’re already planning ahead.

We’d love to hear from our BLPG members:

What topics or themes would you like us to explore in future BLPG webinars or in-person meetings?

Your input helps us shape programmes that are relevant, challenging, and useful—though we can’t promise Belgian waffles or chocolate!

Here’s to more great haematopathology ahead!

Warmly,
Prof Maria Calaminici & Dr Hebah Ali
on behalf of BLPG Council