Editor Elena Patera
Welcome to the March issue of Anastomosis. In this issue, we bring you the latest news from our members and from the Journal of Anatomy and Aging Cell.
If you have any news, events or announcements that you would like to see published in the newsletter, please send us an email by the 20th of each month. Items should reach the editor a minimum of 30 days before the date that the event is scheduled to take place. Please remember that you can visit our News Page at any time for the very latest news.
Education Committee Tip of the Month
'Using Student Roles in the Dissection Room'
Written by Dr Claire Fitton (University of Glasgow)
Learning anatomy through dissection is intrinsically interactive. However, with increasing student numbers and more students per cadaver, keeping the whole group engaged throughout the session can be a challenge, particularly when they are not actively dissecting. At the University of Glasgow, a ‘student roles’ dissection approach was trialled with the Medicine Cohorts in Years 1 and 2. Each student took on one of the following teams-based roles per session:
The typical set-up was 2 dissectors, 1 chair, 1 scribe and all others students as researchers. If there were fewer students, the chair and scribe roles could be combined.
Other additional resources provided were:
1. 1 checkout sheet per table
· questions or intended learning outcomes related to the session
· tested core, functional, or applied clinical anatomical knowledge
· e.g. “Identify the intercostal artery, vein, and nerve and describe their location”, “Describe the safest insertion site for performing a thoracocentesis”
2. Reflection and action points sheet
· Completed as a group
· Prompt questions often provided
3. Whiteboard and pens
· 1 per table
4. Textbooks
· Anatomy, physiology, histology, embryology, neuroanatomy, neurology, and surgical textbooks and atlases provided
· Shared between the class, multiple copies of each
The responses from 184 students showed that the approach was very well received: 89% of students felt more engaged with their learning because of the roles system and 82% felt a sense of accountability towards their group, preferring the approach to dissection without the roles. Students quoted “I have learnt so much more this anatomy block because of the checkout sheets and role” and “The new format for anatomy teaching is exceptional and a lot more intellectually stimulating”.
Students sometime found a disconnect between theory and practical-base roles, so encouraging communication between these roles is key!
Top tips for implementing the approach
· Include a variety of different active verbs for the checkout sheet: ‘identify’, ‘draw’, ‘discuss’, ‘define’, as well as clinical applications (if clinical cohort)
· Empower the Chair to take the lead, getting them to encourage communication between the roles
· Give prompt questions for the reflections and remind students to keep action points ‘specific and detailed’
· Consider textbooks instead of internet-based devices as available resources - avoided students googling and encouraged them to view a variety of textbooks
· Have tick boxes on the checkout sheet to allow for accountability and demonstrate achievement
· Use demonstrators/teaching assistants in the room to check students are completing the checkout sheet and to help with student learning
Would you like to tell the AS membership about your 'Tip of the Month', 'Anatomy Education Paper of the Month' or 'Anatomy Resource of the Month'?
We are looking for contributors who would be willing to write a short review on a 'Tip of the Month', 'Anatomy Education Paper of the Month' or 'Anatomy Resource of the Month. If you would like to contribute to an upcoming issue of Anastomosis, and join our bank of contributors please complete this form and we will be in touch!
Congratulations to the Latest Recipients of Anatomical Society Funding
If you would like to know more about how the Anatomical Society Funds our members, please see our full prize and funding matrix here. This month we would like to congratulate and latest recipients of the society's funding awards and provide you with the reports of the successful endeavours of recent awardees.
Dr Sophie Miller Memorial Prize 2026
The Dr Sophie Miller Memorial Prize is an annual protected opportunity for early career members to present their own promising unpublished or early published anatomical research at the summer scientific meeting of the Society.
Congratulations to Ms Lauren Barrett from the University College Cork (UCC) in Ireland for being awarded the Dr Sophie Miller Memorial Prize 2026! Lauren's talk is titled 'Uncovering the potential of SKOR1 as a novel therapeutic target for Parkinson's Disease' and will be given at the Anatomical Society Summer Meeting which will take place between 15th-17th of July at the University of Bristol.
The Symington Bequest Travel Fund
The Trustees of the Symington Bequest Fund make grants to Society Members towards costs associated with the conduction and dissemination of anatomical research.
Congratulations to our most recent awardees! Below is the list of the names of the individuals who were awarded this travel fund, and the reports of previous awardees.
Round 1 of Academic Year 2025/2026
Dr Hazel Allardyce participated in the 5th International Scientific Congress on Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) which took place between 11th to 14th of March 2026 in Budapest, Hungary. . REPORT
Round 2 of Academic Year 2025/2026
Ms Lauren Barrett participated in ECNP (European College of Neuropsychopharmacology) Workshop on Applied Neuroscience, Nice, France, 12th to 15th March 2026. REPORT
Dr Marta Perera Perez – to participate in Craniofacial Morphogenesis and Tissue Regeneration Gordon Research Conference, Ventura, California, USA, 22nd to 27th March 2026.
Ms Eleni Melina Bell – to participate in EMBO (European Molecular Biology Organisation) Limb development and Regeneration: Quantitative, Ecological and Diversification Studies Conference, Tokyo, Japan, 23rd to 27th March 2026.
Dr Eiman Abdel Meguid - to participate in the 22nd Congress of the International Federation of Associations of Anatomists (IFAA), ‘Anatomy for Everyone’, Melbourne, Australia, 13th to 16th August 2026.
Ms Emily Baxter - to participate in the 22nd Congress of the International Federation of Associations of Anatomists (IFAA), ‘Anatomy for Everyone’, Melbourne, Australia, 13th to 16th August 2026.
Dr Sourav Bhattacharjee - to participate in the 22nd Congress of the International Federation of Associations of Anatomists (IFAA), ‘Anatomy for Everyone’, Melbourne, Australia, 13th to 16th August 2026.
Dr Isma Liza Mohd Isa - to participate in the 22nd Congress of the International Federation of Associations of Anatomists (IFAA), ‘Anatomy for Everyone’, Melbourne, Australia, 13th to 16th August 2026.
Dr Munesh Khamuani - to participate in the 22nd Congress of the International Federation of Associations of Anatomists (IFAA), ‘Anatomy for Everyone’, Melbourne, Australia, 13th to 16th August 2026.
Dr Mutahira Lone - to participate in the 22nd Congress of the International Federation of Associations of Anatomists (IFAA), ‘Anatomy for Everyone’, Melbourne, Australia, 13th to 16th August 2026.
Ms Elena Patera - to participate in the 22nd Congress of the International Federation of Associations of Anatomists (IFAA), ‘Anatomy for Everyone’, Melbourne, Australia, 13th to 16th August 2026.
Anatomical Society Departmental Seminars Grants
The Anatomical Society awards grants to provide financial support to visiting speakers for seminars. Congratulations to the latest recipients of this award! Below is also a report from a recent awardee.
Round 6 2024/2025
Award Holder: Professor Fabio Quondamatteo
Hosted by: Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI)
Location: Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) 18th February 2026
Key Speaker: Dr Hazel Allardyce, University of Glasgow
Topic: Guest Talk within the weekly meeting of the Tissue Engineering Group, RCSI Report
Round 2 2025/2026
Award Holder: Dr Jennifer Paxton
Hosted By: University of Edinburgh
Date: April 2026 (Exact date TBC)
Key Speaker: Dr Rebecca Rolfe, Trinity College, Dublin
Event: Stability in the musculoskeletal system, investigating the importance of movement to understand connective tissue function
Award Holder: Professor James Sleigh
Hosted By: University College London Queen Square Institute of Neurology
Date: 30th April 2026
Key Speaker: Dr Lyndsay Murray, University of Edinburgh
Event: Understanding and targeting post-treatment deficits in the motor unit in mouse models of spinal muscular atrophy
Award Holder: Dr Ourania Varsou
Hosted By: University of Glasgow
Date: May 2026 (Exact Date TBC)
Key Speaker: Dr Eiman Abdel-Meguid, Queen’s University Belfast
Event: Flipped Classroom in Anatomy Education: Principles, Framework and Practical Guidelines
Anatomical Society Public Engagement & Outreach Grants
The Anatomical Society provides grants to support the public engagement and outreach activities of members of the society in the field of anatomy. Congratulations to our most recent awardees!
Round 2 of academic year 2025/2026
Awardee: Dr Laura Porro
Institution: University College London
Event dates: 30th June 2026 to 5th July 2026
Venue: To be held at the Royal Society, 6-9 Carlton House Terrace, London, SW1Y 5AG Activity
Title: Inside Anatomy: Immortalising Natural History in 3D – one of 13 flagship exhibits for the Royal Society’s Summer Science Exhibition
Awardee: Dr Ourania Varsou
Institution: University of Glasgow
Event dates: After May 2026 (Exact Date TBC)
Venue: Glasgow Riverside Museum, Glasgow, Activity
Title: Breathing Like a Sci-Fi Villain: How Respirators Work with the Human Respiratory System – Developing a Sustainable Public Engagement Toolkit
Deadlines for next round for Receipt of Applications
Award application deadline date for round 3 of the 2025/2026 award year:
Symington Bequest
Barclay Smith Travelling Fund
Fellowship of the Anatomical Society
Public Engagement and Outreach
Departmental Seminar Awards
Deadline: 15.04.2026
Award application deadline date for round 2 of the 2025/2026 award year:
Support for Student Societies
Deadline: 01.04.2025
N.B: For academic year 2025/2026 onwards, there will only be 5 prize rounds and council meetings.
Anatomy Research Developmental Awards 2025/2026
Congratulations to the Anatomical Society Anatomy Research Developmental Awards for the academic year 2025/2026!
Awardee: Dr Shane Browne
Institution: Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI)
Project Title: Next generation 3D model of ageing vasculature using cell-centred hydrogels
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Awardee: Dr Benedicta Quaye
Institution: University of Lancaster Project
Title: High-plex In Situ Hybridization Profiling of the Ligamentum Arteriosum, Aorta, and Pulmonary Trunk in Murine Models
PhD Studentship available at Trinity College Dublin
Dr Rebecca Rolfe and Professor Paula Murphy, invite applications for an Anatomical Society funded PhD studentship titled 'Exploring sex-based differences in ligament development and maturation: Do they contribute to tissue vulnerability'
For more information please check out the following document:
Deadline for application submissions: 27th of March 2026
Anatomical Society International Undergraduate Anatomy Arts & Crafts Competition 2025/26 Winners
Congratulations to the winners of the Anatomical Society International Undergraduate Anatomy Arts & Crafts Competition for the academic year 2025-2026!
Name | Award | Piece of Art/Craft |
Mr Harry Stewart | 1st Place | Renal Reflection |
Ms Emily Flint | Runner-Up | Hiraeth |
Ms Aram Al Siyabi Ms Daniela Perrone Ms Sagdiana Ashurova | Joined 3rd Place Joined 3rd Place Joined 3rd Place | Heart of Cultures Cranium in Flowers Cross The Ocean |
For more information please visit https://www.glasgowaac.com/
Anatomy Without Dissection II at the University of Sheffield
The information below is provided by Dr Daniela I. Cacciabue, University Teacher and Anatomy Lead for the School of Biosciences at the University of Sheffield.
This year, we are focusing on how the University of Sheffield is redefining anatomical study through a hybrid approach—merging digital precision with advanced plastination and synthetic resources. We have a fantastic lineup of keynote speakers prepared to discuss these evolving pedagogical methods. We are particularly keen to provide a platform for Early Career Anatomists to present their work, supporting their career pathway progression and fostering engagement within the community.
Event Details & Registration: Anatomy Without Dissection II Event
Event Vision:
After a century-long legacy of cadaveric study, the University of Sheffield is redefining how we understand the human body. We are pioneering a hybrid approach to anatomy—merging the precision of digital technology with the tactile reality of cutting-edge plastination and synthetic resources. Join us as we explore the future of anatomical science.
Upcoming Conferences
22nd Congress of the International Federation of Associations of Anatomists (IFAA), 13th-16th August 2026, Melbourne, Australia
Early bird registration for the 22nd IFAA Congress closes on April 10th 2026!
This is an opportunity to share our work, insights, and innovations with a global audience of colleagues and thought leaders in anatomy and related fields, including:
Anatomical Sciences Education
Surgical and Clinical Anatomy
Imaging Anatomy
Neuroscience and Cell Biology
Ethics and Law
Anatomy for Everyone, including Biological Anthropology, Forensics, Histology, Developmental Anatomy/Embryology
For more information regarding the registration, please visit this link: https://ifaa2026.org/en-AU/pages/registration/registration
Journal of Anatomy
For a summary of many of the published articles check out @JournalofAnat. As a member of the Anatomical Society you have access to these articles and to the Journal of Anatomy through Wiley Online Library.
Access the journal here.
The cover image for the latest issue shows distal enthesis of the human anterior talofibular ligament stained with Haematoxylin & Eosin. The image was taken with the donor's consent. Image courtesy of Dr Sophie Mok and Dr Jennifer Z Paxton, University of Edinburgh.
Access the cover image here
The cover image for the journal's March issue is shown below:
Aging Cell
Aging Cell is a bi-monthly peer-reviewed, open access journal that aims to publish the highest quality, innovative research addressing fundamental issues in the biology of aging. We would like to remind you that our colleagues Aging Cell are now back on X and sharing exciting news and updates on articles from their journal. Please give them a follow @aging_cell
Access the journal here: Aging Cell
Vacancies
University of Cambridge For more information about this post please click here. | Job Title | Human Anatomy Centre Manager |
Contract Type: | Permanent | |
Organisation: | Department of Physiology, Development & Neuroscience, University of Cambridge | |
Remuneration: | £35,608 to £46,049 | |
Closing Date: | 12/04/2026 |