Continuing ESDIP’s tradition of fostering a dynamic, interdisciplinary community, ECDP2026 will bring together experts from pathology, computer science, molecular biology, clinical medicine, and industry. The congress will serve as a platform for scientific exchange, hands-on experiences, and strategic discussions around the rapidly evolving field of Digital and Computational Pathology.
The 2026 edition will focus on the real-world integration of digital pathology into routine diagnostics, emphasizing the convergence of whole slide imaging, AI-driven tools, and molecular profiling in clinical workflows. Special emphasis will be placed on the role of standardized data infrastructures and the seamless integration of digital tools into clinical practice.
ESDIP remains committed to advancing education, innovation, and collaboration in digital pathology. ECDP2026 will reflect this mission through carefully curated sessions, interactive formats, and international participation.
The ECDP2026 focus areas will include (but are not limited to):
- Integrative Diagnostics – Studies that merge Pathology and other specialties/domains
- AI Agents – Examples of early applications of the AI Agents in Pathology
- Machine Learning and Algorithm Development – Studies focused on the creation and optimization of ML algorithms tailored to Pathology
- ML and AI applications – Examples of ML/AI applications in pathology subfields (e.g. breast, lung, renal, head and neck and cytopathology)
- Digital Pathology Workflow Implementation – Strategies and best practices for deploying digital pathology solutions
- Quality Assurance – Studies related to the development and application of QA tools in the digital workflow
- Interoperability in Digital and Computational Pathology – Data standardization, compatibility of digital imaging formats, and cross-platform functionality
- Spatial and 3D pathology – Studies regarding the application of spatial and 3D pathology
- Virtual staining – Development and application of virtual staining techniques in pathology
- Structured Reporting – Digital Pathology/AI & structured reporting
- Bias in AI – Data and other bias in AI applied to Pathology
- Ethics and Regulation – Ethical and regulatory aspects in digital and computational pathology
- The Odd Couple – Special session where we are looking for joint presentations showcasing the joint effort across disciplines (e.g. 1 Pathologist / 1 Computer scientist; 1 Pathologist / 1 Biomedical Scientist / etc.). The topic should fit one of the previous categories
In this last category, for the third year, the ECDP2026 organization will allow authors to present their work together. This is an innovative format that aims to bring together interdisciplinary teams (pathologists and computer scientists/ pathologists and lab technicians / etc.).
