The Institute of Pathology and Genetics (IPG) is a non-profit association founded in Charleroi, Belgium in 1958. It has 350 highly specialized and dedicated staff. Each year it carries out more than 450,000 analyses.
The IPG’s activity is based on 3 essential pillars: anatomic pathology, the molecular biology laboratory and the human genetics centre, one of 8 such centres in Belgium. In anatomic pathology, the pathologists use conventional and digital microscopy, immunohistochemistry with PDL1 markers, the latest generation sequencing as well as quantitative and digital PCR in order to carry out examinations in fields as varied as pneumology, gynaecology, haematology, dermatology, neurosurgery and cytopathology.
In the field of human genetics, a double-specialized team of paediatricians and nephrologists with super specialization in genetics, often qualified as PhD as well, carry out supervised laboratory tests and family consultations for patients with rare diseases: diagnoses and prescriptions for innovative treatments are planned in this framework. Finally, the molecular biology activities bring together technologists, scientific experts and bioinformaticians highly specialized who carry out tests for constitutional and genetic diseases in order to guide diagnosis and define targeted oncological treatments that can increase patient survival.
The IPG carries out genetic consultations on its site but also on those of partner hospitals in Wallonia, collecting samples from them in order to carry out the three main types of examination mentioned above. In addition, its pathologists participate in multidisciplinary oncology consultations in order to define targeted diagnoses and treatments. It is also an official research institute with an annual budget reserved for this activity. 25 projects are underway each year in order to improve the understanding of rare diseases and upgrade the multidisciplinary management of patients.
In 2024, the IPG took over the activities of the pathological anatomy laboratory at HUmani (17,000 histological analyses, 15,000 cytological analyses, 4 doctors, around ten technicians), providing it with a welcome locoregional consolidation. Similarly, the new head of the IPG’s pathological anatomy department has developed a 4-year institutional project (April 2024 – April 2028) that includes digital pathology, AI and technical consolidation. In addition, the new biobank manager has launched a strategic review to increase the number of tissue samples included in the biobank that can be offered to commercial companies or other laboratories for technical development purposes. The aim is also to achieve a clear structuring of the data associated with the samples kept in the biobank.
At the same time, the IPG is consolidating its operations into medical centres with a cross-disciplinary, integrative approach. Two new divisions have been launched in 2024: the cancer pole and the prenatal and preconceptional genetics pole. The Institute was also recognised as a high-volume institution under the new NGS agreement for onco-haematology, which means that NGS analyses in oncology – an increasingly important activity for the IPG – will continue to be reimbursed by the INAMI.
In 2025, the IPG continued its collaboration with numerous hospitals and laboratories on a basis of win-win collaboration. It was also involved in the primary screening project for cervical cancer using HPV molecular testing: in that prospect, it re-equipped itself to address the replacement of cytology by molecular biology which came into force on 1 January 2025. In addition, the Institute has successfully implemented the European IVDR regulation. It was one of the first Belgian organisations to be audited by the Federal Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AFMPS- FAGG) in this regard – an inspection that was crowned with success.
Also in 2025, the IPG received two visits from senior politicians: Adrien Dolimont, Minister-President of the Walloon Government, on 15 May, and Yves Coppieters, Walloon Minister for Health, on 23 June. Another notable visit was that of a Greek delegation on 7 May, as part of an event promoting the Gosselies Biopark.
Another source of satisfaction for the Institute is the flexible scope of accreditation it has obtained under ISO 15189:2022. This new version of the standard demonstrates the high quality of its services and the confidence placed in it by accreditation bodies.
The IPG is also heavily involved in a dynamic modernisation process. This process concerns the use of registers and is based on excellent collaboration with IT departments. But it doesn’t stop there: the Institute is participating in the PEGALIS project, which aims to replace its application software (used to render analysis results) for molecular biology and genetics. This modernization of the application will be extended to pathological anatomy: an extensive benchmarking of application solutions is currently underway for this purpose.
The outlook for the IPG is exciting. The Institute is continuing to review its operational management and its policy on innovation, research and development, and scientific research. Last but not least, the IPG is involved in the CERCLE project, which aims to redefine corporate values in close consultation with all its employees. The result will be a renewed identity for ever-higher quality!
Institut de Pathologie et de Génétique
Avenue Georges Lemaître, 25
B-6041 Gosselies
Tel.: +32 (0)71 47 30 47
Email: secretariat.direction@ipg.be
