The RPAH Department of Neuropathology is the only neuropathology department in NSW. It provides subspecialist diagnostic expertise on a wide variety of neurosurgical and forensic neurological specimens. Its main functions are:  

• Providing tissue-based diagnostic services for the RPAH Neurosurgery and Neurology Departments.
• Providing a “second opinion” service for pathologists across the state and internationally.
• Providing molecular testing services for brain tumours.
• Acting as the NSW state referral laboratory for Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) diagnosis.
• Providing subspecialist forensic neuropathology services to all three NSW forensic hubs.
• Reference laboratory services for brain tumour clinical trials. 

The Neuropathology laboratory was established in 1986 in the Blackburn building of the University of Sydney. In 2013 it relocated to state-of-the-art laboratories at the Brain & Mind Centre, University of Sydney. 

The Department of Neuropathology provides training opportunities for anatomical pathology trainees as well as research students, and is closely affiliated with the University of Sydney Discipline of Pathology and Central Clinical School. It also actively contributes to medical student teaching at the University of Sydney.