SRINAGAR: The Department of Pathology at Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) has introduced an advanced panel of 174 Immunohistochemistry (IHC) markers, a development expected to significantly strengthen cancer diagnostics and precision pathology services at the institute.
The facility was formally inaugurated by Prof M. Ashraf Ganie, Director of Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences and Ex-Officio Secretary to the Government, at the Immunohistochemistry Laboratory of the Department of Pathology.
Faculty members, residents, and technical staff from the Department of Pathology attended the event, along with faculty from related departments including Medical Oncology, Surgical Oncology, Radiation Oncology, General Surgery, and Clinical Hematology.
According to officials, the introduction of the extensive IHC marker panel substantially enhances the institute’s diagnostic capabilities. With access to a wide range of tumour- and disease-specific markers, clinicians and pathologists will now be able to achieve improved diagnostic accuracy, better tumour classification, and more reliable prognostication, enabling more informed therapeutic decision-making in the management of malignancies and other complex diseases.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Ganie congratulated the Department of Pathology for establishing the comprehensive diagnostic panel. He said the initiative would strengthen the institute’s capacity to provide advanced diagnostic services to patients across Jammu and Kashmir and neighbouring regions.
He noted that the availability of advanced immunohistochemical testing within the institute would significantly reduce the need for patients to send samples outside the region, thereby saving time and costs while facilitating the timely initiation of treatment.
The Director also highlighted the importance of inter-departmental collaboration in improving diagnostic efficiency, particularly in cancer care, where accurate and timely pathological diagnosis plays a critical role in treatment planning.
Head of the Department of Pathology, Dr. Syed Besina, said the expanded IHC panel includes markers required for the diagnosis and sub-typing of hematolymphoid, epithelial, mesenchymal, and neuroendocrine tumours, along with several prognostic and predictive markers increasingly used in modern oncology practice.
He added that the new facility would also strengthen academic research and postgraduate training, providing valuable learning opportunities for residents and researchers in pathology.
The Department of Pathology acknowledged the continued support of the SKIMS administration in strengthening laboratory infrastructure and reiterated its commitment to advancing diagnostic excellence, research, and patient care.
Officials said the introduction of the extensive IHC panel marks another step in the efforts of Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences to expand high-quality diagnostic and healthcare services in the region.
