22nd Congress of the International Federation of Associations of Anatomists, melbourne

Our group presented 7 papers at the 22nd IFAA Congress

We were proud to present a diverse suite of research at the 22nd Congress of the International Federation of Associations of Anatomists, held in Melbourne in August 2026. Our team showcased work spanning ethical stewardship, methodological innovation, and new insights into skeletal biology and bone health.

We contributed two talks led by Justyna, including a presentation on ethical stewardship of ancient bone histology collections and another addressing persistent challenges in age estimation using human cortical bone histology. Together with PhD student Phoebe Meyrick and collaborator from the ANU, Laura Wilson, we also presented a systematic review examining how socioeconomic status shapes bone health across different regions and time periods. Our post-doc Karen Cooke explored systemic bone remodelling and its relevance for cancer differential diagnosis in ancient human remains.

Our group also highlighted several methodological advances. PhD student Tahlia Stewart, and  collaborators Eline Schotsmans, Gina McFarlane, Patrick Mahoney, presented two studies: one assessing variation in histological parameters across serial rib midshaft sections, and another comparing cortical microstructure between the rib and femur to better understand intra‑skeletal variation. A student Justyna is co-supervising at JCU, Lauren Michelman, along with her main supervisors, Kate Domett, Helen Anscomb, Alexandra Trollope, introduced a novel application of the Oxford Histological Index and collagen birefringence analysis across three preparation stages of donor skeletal material. 

Together, these presentations reflect our group’s commitment to advancing ethical practice, strengthening methodological rigour, and deepening interdisciplinary understanding in bone histology. We are delighted to have contributed to international discussions shaping the future of anatomical, archaeological, forensic, and biomedical research.