The programme is designed to equip NHS staff with advanced genomic knowledge and applied laboratory skills, directly linked to NHS service priorities and the evolving Genomic Medicine landscape. The Postgraduate Certificate is delivered over 1 academic year (three 20-credit modules), with learning and assessment integrated through a Digital Practice Assessment Document (PAD). The PAD provides a structured record of work-based activities mapped to Postgraduate Certificate learning outcomes and relevant areas of practice.
Learning outcomes
- Analyse normal cellular morphology and the pathological changes associated with disease.
- Demonstrate extended understanding of the molecular basis of tumour growth, angiogenesis, dysplasia, tissue invasion and metastasis.
- Critically evaluate the design, operation and performance of the tests and procedures required to enable selection of safe and appropriate analysis for patients with suspected cancer.
- Evaluate further testing strategies in the context of disease monitoring, metastasis, relapse, and resistant genomic aberrations in cancer.
- Demonstrate extended understanding of the clinical pathway for diagnosis and prognosis of patients with a range of cancers including treatments and the use of clinical therapeutics and their role in precision medicine.
- Evaluate and discuss machine learning and artificial intelligence and their application to digital pathology, including the concepts of coding and analysis of bioinformatic data.
- Prepare samples for genomic testing for the investigation of malignant pathologies, including the identification of molecular and immunohistochemistry testing strategies, applying appropriate quality measures at all stages of the process.
- Analyse, interpret and report genomic histopathology results including quality assurance of results.
Academic modules and content
Advances in Cellular Pathology
- Tissue processing, histological staining, tumour classification
- Immunocytochemistry
- Global pathology trends, healthcare inequalities, and integration of digital pathology and AI
Molecular Science and diagnostics
- Key molecular techniques and their applications in disease diagnosis
- qPCR, sequencing technologies, bioinformatics pipelines
- Interpretation of molecular data, diagnostic workflow design, and case-based applications
- Ethical and practical considerations in NHS laboratory implementation
Precision medicine
- Introduction to personalised healthcare in histopathology
- Tumour profiling, pharmacogenomics, biomarker-led diagnostics
- Use of AI and big data in clinical decision-making
- Key NHS frameworks, including the National Genomic Test Directory
Work-based learning integration
- Learning and assessment embedded within a Digital Practice Assessment Document (PAD), mapping academic outcomes to work-based activities.
- Supervised workplace activities reviewed jointly by NHS workplace supervisors and University academic tutors.
- Emphasis on reflective practice, critical evaluation, and applied genomics in a healthcare setting.
Practical clinical skills
Managing and preparing samples for genomic testing
- For cancers of the following organ systems: breast; gastrointestinal, gynaecological; lung; skin:
- Select appropriate tissue requiring immunohistochemical and/or molecular testing.
- Perform microtomy of a specimen for in house/onward molecular testing maintaining clean technique between cases.
- Review cellularity, necrosis, and tumour burden of pathological samples.
- Mark up of the area of maximal tumour content on slides.
- Select the relevant immunohistochemical testing strategy.
- Select the relevant molecular testing strategy.
- Apply decalcification techniques to minimise the impact on downstream testing.
- Validate equipment used for molecular testing and identify remedial actions.
- Apply quality assurance measures to samples where molecular testing is performed at another centre before sending and after receipt.
Interpretation of genomic histopathology results
- For cancers of the following organ systems: breast; gastrointestinal, gynaecological; lung; skin:
- Validate the results of immunohistochemistry and molecular tests.
- Analyse, interpret and draft reports for immunohistochemistry stains and molecular tests to contribute to the final pathology report.
- Prepare reports for contribution at a multidisciplinary team meeting or Genomic Tumour Advisory Board.
- Apply diagnostic and prognostic algorithms.
- Interpret the results of appropriate molecular biomarker tests in the context of potential diagnostic and prognostic patient stratification and targeted therapies.
- Analyse, interpret and draft reports for molecular testing performed at another centre, to contribute to the final pathology report.
- Review genomics EQA reports and identify and recommend corrective actions required.
Download the learning outcomes
PgCert in Histopathology Genomics learning outcomes – 17KB OpenDoc