[Histonet] Scope of Practice

[Esther C Peters]

Hi Bharti,

As Rene notes, it is "not a given" that every researcher in conservation or environmental science uses histology in their research, although they should! But, everyone is specialized these days and we can only know and apply so much; however, collaborations with histologists and histopathologists do occur, and many of us have this expertise and use histotechniques in our research.

In addition to using histology to study reproduction and development, researchers use it in taxonomy and systematics, physiology, biomarkers, toxicology, and molecular biology studies (of particular value is laser-capture microdissection to obtain targeted cells from FFPE or frozen sections to extract DNA and learn about the genetics of abnormal cells (tumors), microorganisms, or parasites.  A recent development in conservation is conservation medicine. Scientists and veterinarians are studying how diseases and anthropogenic changes in the environment are affecting biodiversity and habitats around the world. This requires use of histology to help diagnose diseases and identify etiologic agents, with the hope of managing conservation programs to improve the organisms' and humans' health ("one health").

In the Bay area, check out the University of California at Davis' School of Veterinary Medicine. They have a histology facility. Let me know if you need a contact there (or maybe someone from it will reply to Histonet!).

Esther C. Peters, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Environmental Science & Policy
Biology Program/Medical Technology Coordinator
George Mason University
4400 University Drive, MSN 5F2
Fairfax, VA 22030-4444
Office: David King Hall 3057
Phone: 703-993-3462
Fax: 703-993-1066
epeters2 <@t> gmu.edu

----- Original Message -----
From: Rene J Buesa <rjbuesa <@t> yahoo.com>
Date: Sunday, February 26, 2012 5:09 pm
Subject: Re: [Histonet] Scope of Practice

> As you point out, histology is a fundamental tool in human AND 
> veterinary pathology and every clinical AND veterinary laboratory 
> performs histology procedures/tests routinely.
> In other fields of biology either animal or plant biology it is 
> NOT customary to do histology studies of plants or animals UNLESS 
> the researcher wants to study a specific aspect of the biology of 
> the subject s/he is studying.
> In this sense it is frequent to study reproduction histology or 
> whole histology of small animals or developmental steps (ontogeny).
> Other than that it is NOT a given that "natural studies/biology" 
> include histology work, and they are the exception, not the rule.
> Outside human or veterinary pathology, histology work is not frequent.
> René J.
> 
> --- On Sun, 2/26/12, Bharti Parihar <bhartologist <@t> gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> 
> From: Bharti Parihar <bhartologist <@t> gmail.com>
> Subject: [Histonet] Scope of Practice
> To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> Date: Sunday, February 26, 2012, 4:52 PM
> 
> 
> Hello everyone! I am currently enrolled in an HT program through 
> IUPUI and
> am starting to send resumes out  as I encroach into the end of the 
> program.I asked my supervisor recently if there was a scope for 
> this field in the
> world of conservation?! She wasn't sure but recommended this site 
> to me to
> try to find any answers. It seems as though while 
> biologists/zoologistsetc. are out there on the field studying the 
> respective life form they do,
> there would be a need for histology in there somewhere, but I 
> don't really
> know how that works in that realm. I'm only familiar with Clinical 
> Labssince that's all I've ever worked in. Any thoughts/ direction? 
> I'd like to
> get involved in that if possible. I'm looking for work in Calfornia,
> specifically the bay area if possible. But as long as I can take 
> the BART
> to where it is that's fine with me also. I wanna make driving to 
> work the
> last resort, but ya know, gotta work and pay the bills so, if I 
> have to
> drive, so be it. Thanks ahead of time to those that can shed light 
> on this
> subject matter for me!!!
> Sincerely,
>        Bharti Parihar
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