The Department of Occupational Pathology has been functioning at the Institute since 1928, based on the Clinic of occupational diseases. The first head of the Department was Professor I.O. Hilula. In different years, the Department was headed by Professors B.A. Krivoglaz, A.A. Model, O.P. Krasnyuk.
Since 2001, the Department is headed by Prof. A.V. Basanets, a Corresponding member of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine.
Scientists of the Department provide medical and advisory assistance to the working population of Ukraine. There is a modern material and technical base in the Laboratory and developed international relations, which provide a wide range of scientific research on diagnostics, treatment and prevention of occupational and work-related diseases.
In the structure of the Department there is the Laboratory of functional methods of diagnosing diseases of the respiratory system, such as bodipletismography, diffusion capability of the alveolar-capillary membrane (DLCO), spirometry, respirosonography (computerized recording of respiratory noises in the lungs).
In 2008, the Laboratory of molecular-genetic research in occupational pathology was organized in the Department, being the only one in Ukraine.
At present, methods of early diagnostics, primary and secondary prevention of occupational and work-related diseases in workers of welding professions have been substantiated. The role of iron in developing the syndrome of overload of the body with iron in welders (iron overload) has been studied.
The regularities of development of diseases of the bronchopulmonary system in agricultural workers exposed to organic dust have been established. In collaboration with specialists of the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (Helsinki), the syndrome of toxic effect of organic dust on workers in the fodder production was described for the first time.
During the last decade, the main subject of research was the state of health of miners of underground coal mines in Ukraine.
The markers of early ventilation disorders in occupational diseases of the bronchopulmonary system (chronic bronchitis, COPD, pneumoconiosis) are determined and implemented in practice, which makes it possible to diagnose lesions of the lung function in patients at earlier stages.
For the first time in Ukraine for the diagnosis of interstitial diseases of the lungs of occupational genesis, the use of the CTHR method was initiated and a system of CT-signs for pneumoconiosis and asbestosis was developed. The results of the research were included in the WHO Global Plan of Action 2000-2017 in the Section "Elimination of pneumoconiosis".
Also, considerable attention is paid to problems of diagnostics, treatment and prevention of occupational diseases due to the influence of physical factors. In particular, certain pathogenetic mechanisms in the course of occupational sensorineural hearing loss were specified and the diagnostic system of this disease was improved, taking into account the level of lesions of the hearing analyzer in workers exposed to high levels of noise.
Taking into account the need of harmonization of the Ukrainian legislation with the standards of the European Union, a program for monitoring the state of health of workers exposed to chrysotile asbestos dust has been developed. The results of scientific research were used for grounding the ratification of the ILO Convention No. 162 "On Occupational Safety in the Use of Asbestos" by Ukraine.
During the last decade, the workers of the Department started and successfully developed a new direction in the field of occupational health - determining a role of the genetic component in development of occupational and work-related diseases, which opens up fundamentally new possibilities for primary prevention.
To date, molecular genetic markers have been studied for the risk of development and resistance to such occupational diseases as pneumoconiosis, asbestos-related diseases, COPD, as well as diseases of the circulatory system (arterial hypertension and ischemic heart disease) in miners.
For many years, the Department has opened a clinical traineeship and postgraduate studies, where physicians are constantly studying on a specialty "Occupational pathology", and there are carried out studies for dissertations. The workers of the Department are regular participants and experts of international congresses, symposiums, associations.
The scientists of the Department are systematically involved in the training process and are regular participants of the pre-certification process of training of physicians at the Chair of Occupational Health, Psychophysiology and Medical Ecology of the National Medical Academy for Postgraduate Education named after P.L. Shupik on a specialty "0ccupational pathology".
1. Consultative assistance at all levels of medical care of the working population - primary, secondary, tertiary.
2. Conducting medical examinations of employees (preliminary and periodic).
3. Training of specialists-occupational pathologies at workplaces.
4. Conducting pre-certification cycles on advanced training in occupational pathology.