What should we fix in digital pathology with Puneet Pantane, Crosscope

Remote Digital Second Opinions: Pioneering Global Patient Care

Imagine a future where accessing world-class diagnostic expertise is just a click away for any patient, anywhere. In this episode you will learn how remote digital second opinions, a specialized application of digital pathology, can drive global adoption of digital pathology  and significantly expand access to patient care. 

Together with Dr. Raj Singh, founder of PathPresenter, we explore this cutting-edge approach that promises to transcend current digital pathology uses, making specialized medical consultations more accessible and efficient than ever before.

The Evolution of Digital Pathology

Digital pathology is rapidly becoming indispensable in modern healthcare. It equips pathologists with advanced digital tools and platforms, significantly boosting the speed and scope of diagnoses.  Remote second opinion has a transformative role here. By leveraging digital slides and cloud-based infrastructure, pathologists can collaborate seamlessly across distances, breaking down geographical barriers like never before.

PathPresenter: Filling the Gaps in Pathology Workflow

Dr. Singh unfolds the story behind PathPresenter, highlighting its inception, mission, and the significant void it fills within the pathology field. PathPresenter is more than a platform; it's a catalyst for bridging educational and clinical gaps in pathology. It enables effortless sharing and collaborative analysis of cases among pathologists globally, fostering a vast network of professional expertise.

Embracing the Digital Shift: A Call to Action

The shift towards digital workflows is not merely a technological leap but a comprehensive strategy to enhance patient care, ensuring diagnoses are faster, more accurate, and widely accessible.

The transition to digital pathology is inevitable and it is happening quickly.  Dr. Singh emphasizes the urgency for pathologists and healthcare institutions to adapt to these technological advances proactively. Proactive adoption will give us the power to decide how we want to implement digital pathology and what tools we want to use. If the pathology community does not take charge of this process it will be imposed on us by others. We don't want to figure out how to digitize slides in a panic mode when other specialties require it for patient care. We want to be in the drivers seat and guide the patient care according to the most up-to-date pathology expertise. 

Why This Matters More Than Ever

In an era where healthcare demands are ever-increasing, and the need for specialized knowledge is paramount, digital pathology and remote second opinions present an unprecedented opportunity. This application democratizes access to expert diagnostics, ensuring patients, regardless of location, receive the best care possible.

 It's more than an advancement; it's a new way of thinking about and delivering pathology services. Explore the vast possibilities remote second opinions offer and how they serve as a bridge to a more connected, efficient, and patient-centric healthcare system.


THIS EPISODE'S RESOURCES

• PathPresenter website
• Pervious episode with Dr. Raj Singh (when PathPresenter was just for presentations:)
  
  

Become a Digital Pathology Trailblazer and See you inside the club: Digital Pathology Club Membership

Today our special guest is Dr. Keith Kaplan, the creator of TissuePathology.com himself! The publisher of a platform that inspired the creation of Digital Pathology Place. 

The Digital Pathology Trailblazer on the Web

Dr. Keith Kaplan, a surgical pathologist  and a pivotal figure in the digital pathology community, has significantly contributed to the field with his groundbreaking website, tissuepathology.com. His passion and dedication have made his platform the first resource many turn to when searching for anything related to digital pathology.

From Traditional to Digital

Dr. Kaplan's unique journey in pathology began in Chicago, shaped by his military service and academic path at Northwestern University. His early exposure to telepathology and digital imaging during his military tenure set the stage for his impactful venture into digital pathology, initiating a transformative career trajectory.

TissuePathology.com: A Pioneering Platform

Dr. Kaplan launched tissuepathology.com, driven by his enthusiasm for utilizing the internet to disseminate knowledge. This platform quickly became a leading blog in the digital pathology realm, motivating others to establish their blogs and engage in the dynamic digital pathology conversation.

The Evolution of Digital Pathology

Keith's  work with robotic telepathology and his involvement in deploying digital pathology solutions across various settings highlight the significant advancements in the field. His stories of early digital pathology efforts, including the deployment of systems for military applications and the subsequent adoption in civilian medical practice, showcase the progressive integration of technology in pathology.

Embracing Change: The Digital Shift

Recently Dr. Kaplan's practice  transitioned to digital pathology for primary diagnosis. The integration of digital pathology has streamlined diagnostic processes, enabling faster and more efficient patient care despite initial reservations about moving away from traditional microscopy.

Future Directions and Ongoing Challenges

Looking ahead,  the future of digital pathology will be impacted by AI and the ongoing pathology workforce shortage. Keith emphasizes the need for the pathology community to adapt and embrace new technologies while also addressing regulatory, ethical, and practical challenges. 

THIS EPISODE's RESOURCES:

• THIS EPISODE's RESOURCES:
  • Ten important lessons we have learned as pathology bloggers (Paper)
  • First 100 days of using digital pathology (LinkedIn post)
  • Digital pathology is just pathology, but does it matter anymore? (LinkedIn article)
  • Dr. Keith Kaplan's blog tissuepathology.com
  • Digital Pathology Club - course membership

Become a Digital Pathology Trailblazer and See you inside the club: Digital Pathology Club Membership

This is the audio version of the second  episode of the DIGITAL PATHOLOGY NEWSLETTER. that should have already landed in your inbox if you are on my digital pathology trailblazer list.

(And if you are not, you can get on it here, and get a free PFD of my "Digital Pathology 101" book)

HERE ARE THIS EPISODE'S RESOURCES:

• Digital Pathology Trailblazer Corner
  • We hit 10K followers on LinkedIn! Thank you so much!
• Interesting DP Research & Developments
  • AI in Pathology: What could possibly go wrong (the official paper)
  • AI in Pathology: What could possibly go wrong (the authors version on LinkedIn)
• Interviews & Opinion from DP Experts
  • Last podcast episode with Dr. Richard Levenson about glassless pathology and AI. So  informative and entertaining!
• Educational Resources
  • The FREE online course for those starting the digital pathology journey - The Digital Pathology Starter Kit
  • DPA Webinar "Remote Sign Out. Myths and Reality" by Dr. Giovanni Lujan
• Cool DP Equipment
  • Small microscope camera I'm exploring called PathoZoom
  • Podcast with Dr. Martin Weihrauch, the CEO of Smart in Media - the producer of PathoZoom
• Quick Bullet Updates of What I'm Up To
  • Waiting for the Foldscope, a little paper microscope, to arrive. 

Become a Digital Pathology Trailblazer and See you inside the club: Digital Pathology Club Membership

Can pathology be truly digital without getting rid of glass?

In this  episode with Dr. Richard Levenson, Professor and Vice Chair for Strategic Technologies at the Pathology Department of UC Davis, you’ll learn how close we are to “glassless pathology” and other digital innovations that could transform the field.

In this episode we cover:

• Richard's Background

With an eclectic background spanning English literature, medical school, research, and even a tech startup, Richard brings unique expertise in digital pathology. At UC Davis, he's pioneering new microscopy methods like MUSE and FIBI that enable imaging thick tissue sections without slides or stains.

• Pigeon Research

You may also know Richard for his famously viral research training pigeons to detect cancer in pathology slides. As he explains, “Pigeons have the skills to tell...tiny, tiny pattern differences” critical for pathological diagnosis. This project brought fun and creativity to his lab, even as they push new frontiers in glassless pathology.

• Histolix and Glassless Pathology

His company Histolix is commercializing the glassless pathology approach, which Richard envisions bringing pathology on par with radiology’s direct-to-digital workflow. Their validation study already achieved 97% concordance between glassless and standard H&E reads. As Richard explains, these techniques “open up the possibility for rapid intraoperative diagnosis without freezing or sectioning.”

• Digital Pathology Innovation

Combined with AI, innovations like these could automate workflow steps like staining, analysis, and prioritization. However, as their recent paper explores, AI does pose risks. Richard believes we must tread carefully, using human oversight and judgment to guide implementation. Still, he sees great potential to augment diagnostics with computational tools.

• Conclusion

There’s no better guide to exploring these frontiers than Richard. Tune into the full conversation using the link above for an insightful tour of digital pathology’s cutting edge. Check Histolix for the latest on their research, and access key publications from Richard’s lab through the links below. Where will you help take pathology next?

THIS EPISODES RESOURCES

• Histolix website
• A Pilot Validation Study Comparing Fluorescence-Imitating Brightfield Imaging, A Slide-Free Imaging Method, With Standard Formalin-Fixed, Paraffin-Embedded Hematoxylin-Eosin-Stained Tissue Section Histology for Primary Surgical Pathology Diagnosis
• Pocket MUSE: an affordable, versatile and high-performance fluorescence microscope using smartphone. 
• AI in Pathology: What could possibly go wrong?
• Pigeons (Columba livia) as Trainable Observers of Pathology and Radiology Breast Cancer Images. 

Become a Digital Pathology Trailblazer and See you inside the club: Digital Pathology Club Membership

This is the audio version of the first brand new DIGITAL PATHOLOGY NEWSLETTER. that should have already landed in your inbox if you are subscribed to my list.

If not you can join here (and get the PDF of my book for free!)

THIS EPISODE'S RESOURCES:

• Interesting DP Research & Developments
  • Swarm learning for decentralized artificial intelligence in cancer histopathology
• Interviews & Opinion from DP Experts
  • Last podcast episode with Dr. Talat Zehra about how AI is transforming pathology in developing countries
• Educational Resources
  • "Digital Pathology 101. All you need to know to start and continue your digital pathology journey"- Book
• Cool DP Equipment
  • Unboxing and Setup of a Microscope Monitor Display
• Quick Bullet Updates of What I'm Up To
  • Reading Digital Pathology Papers with Text to Speech Software | Natural Reader review
    
    

Become a Digital Pathology Trailblazer and See you inside the club: Digital Pathology Club Membership

What is the status of digital pathology  in under-researched areas?

Is it even a thing? Can it be used? And in what capacity?

In this exciting episode with Dr. Talat Zehra, a trailblazing pathologist from Karachi, Pakistan, and a finalist on the Pathologist Power List we are answering all the above questions.

 Dr. Zehra is a beacon of innovation and determination, reshaping the landscape of healthcare in her region.

🔍 Don’t Miss:

• The Trailblazing Journey in Digital Pathology: Learn about Dr. Zehra's path to becoming a leader in digital pathology.
• Addressing Challenges in Low-Resource Settings: Discover how digital pathology can overcome healthcare barriers.
• Impact of Digital Tools in Developing Nations: Explore the transformative effect of technology in pathology.
• The Future of Pathology: Insights into embracing AI and upcoming trends in the field.

 Dr. Zehra takes us through her groundbreaking journey in digital pathology. She shares her evolution from using basic static imaging techniques to embracing AI-enhanced pathology, overcoming numerous challenges to pioneer advanced pathology technologies in Pakistan.

Listen as Dr. Zehra recounts her mission to elevate pathology education and technology. Her story is a powerful testament to how dedication and innovative thinking can break down global healthcare barriers, transforming the field of pathology with a blend of cutting-edge technology and unwavering perseverance.

Become a Digital Pathology Trailblazer and See you inside the club: Digital Pathology Club Membership

Exploring Image Analysis Innovation with Trevor McKee of Pathomics.io

If you work in digital pathology, you likely rely on image analysis tools to gain insights from complex visual data. But how do you stay on top of the latest innovations in this fast-evolving field?

In this podcast episode together with Trevor McKee, CEO of Pathomics.io, we discuss innovation in image analysis using open source tools.

Pathomics takes an innovative approach by building image analysis solutions on open source platforms like QuPath. As Trevor explained, open source fosters collaboration, democratizes access, and drives rapid advances - key in a fast-moving field like digital pathology. This enables rapid progress that proprietary systems can't match.

Trevor's Career Journey

Trevor’s journey lead him from chemical engineering into pioneering image analysis, inspired by solving complex biological problems. His diverse experiences, from photon imaging at MIT to leading a core lab facility, fueled a passion for leveraging image analysis to extract insights. Today, in addition to leading Pathomics.io he is an Adjunct Lecturer at the University of Toronto,  and the Chief Scientific Officer at BioCache™ Lab Solutions.

Transparent and Reproducible Image Analysis & Explainable AI

A core ethos at Pathomics is making image analysis transparent and reproducible.  through explainable AI techniques. Tools like XGBoost create models that are easier to interpret than "black-box" end-to-end neural networks. This builds trust and acceptance among the scientific community.

Streamlining Workflows

In addition, Pathomics develops solutions to streamline clients' image analysis workflows. For example, their Universal StarDist plugin makes it easy to run advanced models like StarDist in QuPath. Overall, the goal is to automate tedious tasks so you can concentrate on high-value decision making.

The Future of Image Analysis

Looking ahead, Trevor shared his vision for an AI-powered online platform enabling users to go seamlessly from images to insights. He also discussed open wikis to prevent redundant work and encourage knowledge sharing as the field rapidly evolves.

Trevor  plans to launch it to catalogue digital pathology resources such as image analysis focused machine learning papers  to prevent redundant research work and encourage knowledge sharing as the field rapidly evolves.. It aligns with his commitment to open science and community knowledge sharing.

Key Takeaways

I came away from our wide-ranging discussion with an insider’s view of the huge potential of image analysis to transform digital pathology. By leveraging open source tools and staying atop the latest advances, you can work smarter and unlock new capabilities.

So tune in to explore these innovations and more from a leader in the field! The episode provides practical insights you can apply to make the most of the newest techniques

THIS EPISODE'S RESOURCES:

• Pathomics.io website 
• Pathomics Wiki with tissue image analysis papers
• Interested in contributing to Pathomics Wiki? Submit your entry here.
• List of open source software for image analysis
• Digital Pathology Club Free Trial

Become a Digital Pathology Trailblazer and See you inside the club: Digital Pathology Club Membership

In this episode, based on a webinar I recently gave, I delve deep into the captivating world of Natural Language Processing (NLP) and its role in pathology. 

Have you ever pondered how language models like ChatGPT are shaping our scientific understanding? 

Or how they might redefine the way we process and interpret vast amounts of data? 

Let's embark on this journey together as I share my insights and findings.

Key Points:

•  The ChatGPT Debate: Is ChatGPT a revolutionary tool or a looming data concern? I've heard the buzz in the digital pathology community, and I'm here to shed light on this debate.

• Natural Language Processing (NLP): As a branch of AI, NLP is transforming industries. From tools like Google Translate to Siri, it's evident NLP's influence is vast. But how does it intertwine with pathology?

• The Might of Large Language Models: Imagine models trained on data equivalent to streaming 4K movies non-stop for years! Their ability to predict and generate text opens up a world of possibilities.

• The Transformer Architecture: It's the game-changer in NLP. It's not just about words; it's about discerning patterns and extracting logic from data.

• Ethical Considerations: With the power of these models comes immense responsibility. I'll discuss the ethical dilemmas we face, especially in medicine and pathology.

The horizon of pathology is expanding with the advancements in AI and NLP. As I delve deeper into tools like ChatGPT, I believe it's imperative to stay updated and make informed decisions. 

I prepared a book for you that is a great starting point: "Digital Pathology 101".
You can grab the FREE PDF here.

Interested in viewing the webinar presentations itself? You can view the webinar here.

Become a Digital Pathology Trailblazer and See you inside the club: Digital Pathology Club Membership

The Future Landscape of Digital Pathology: Insights from Kate Lillard Tunstall, Indica Labs

What insights can be gained from a 12-year-long digital pathology journey as part of one of the leading tissue image analysis solution providers? A lot has happened in that time and Kate Lillard Tunstall, the Chief Scientific Officer at Indica Labs, shares her vast knowledge and experiences in this podcast episode. With a career spanning over a decade, Kate has witnessed firsthand the transformative shifts in the industry.

The Genesis of Halo:

Kate reminisced about the early days of Indica Labs and the birth of their core product, the Halo platform. Designed with precision and adaptability in mind, Halo has become a beacon in the digital pathology and tissue image analysis landscape. The platform's name, inspired by the unique halo-like appearance around cells visible during image analysis, showcases Indica Labs' attention to detail and their connection to the core of pathology.

Services Beyond Software:

Indica Labs isn't just about software; they offer a plethora of services tailored to the needs of the pharma sector and beyond. Their pharma services team, which has been around the longest, acts as a bridge between product development and real-world application. By serving as an internal customer, this team ensures that Indica Labs' offerings are not only cutting-edge but also practical and user-friendly.

Embracing the AI Revolution:

The integration of AI into digital pathology was a significant pivot point for Indica Labs. Kate candidly shared her initial skepticism towards AI's role in pathology. However, witnessing the profound impact of deep learning, especially in tissue classification, turned her into a believer. By 2017, Indica Labs had fully embraced AI, setting itself apart in the industry.

Looking Ahead:

Kate's vision for the future is a world where digital pathology isn't the exception but the norm. As more hospitals and health systems go digital, the volume of data will skyrocket. This data surge, combined with the power of AI, promises unprecedented advancements in pathology. Kate also shared lessons from Strata, a project aimed at merging image analysis data with patient data. Spoiler alert - the project was not pursued, but the challenges it faced underscored the importance of innovation adaptability and a deep understanding of customer needs in the world of digital pathology.

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Dive into the world of digital pathology and stay updated with the latest breakthroughs. Subscribe now! 

• For those eager to delve deeper, join the Digital Pathology Club and 
• secure your copy of the e-book "Digital Pathology 101" 

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#DigitalPathology #PathologyInnovations #IndicaLabs #AIRevolution #Halo #FutureTrends

Become a Digital Pathology Trailblazer and See you inside the club: Digital Pathology Club Membership

Toxicologic pathology plays a critical role in drug development, yet its intersection with digital pathology is often overlooked. As a veterinary pathologist, I want to shed light on this important application.

This is Chapter 5 of the "Digital Pathology 101" book and in this chapter, you will learn  how whole slide imaging is transforming preclinical trials. I'll explain key concepts like creating faithful digital replicas of glass slides. We'll also dive into validations needs for digital systems in regulated GLP studies.

Whole Slide Imaging Overview

I'll start by explaining whole slide imaging. This technology creates 2D digital copies of glass slides. The focus is not 3D images, but flat digital images containing the visual information pathologists need for analysis and reporting.

The FDA states these digital images can substitute for glass slides in preclinical toxicity studies, provided they meet requirements as "faithful digital replicas." With proper validations, digital slides enable remote assessments for multisite trials.

Validation and Documentation

For regulated GLP studies, replacing glass slides necessitates validating the whole digital pathology system. This includes IT infrastructure, scanners, software and more based on intended use.

Documentation is also key. Peer review statements should note the use of digital slides. Images must be securely stored and transmitted to maintain raw data integrity.

Conclusion

In closing, the FDA's guidance on digital pathology in preclinical trials signals an important step towards regulatory acceptance. Digital tools promise more controlled, efficient toxicity assessments, ultimately advancing drug development.

This chapter provides a compass for teams navigating digital pathology in regulated environments. Understanding principles of validation, security, and transparency allows us to realize the benefits while ensuring high standards.

You can find the original FDA guidance document this chapter is based on here:

• Use of Whole Slide Imaging in Nonclinical toxicology Studies: Questions & Answers. 

Or you can watch me explain the guidelines here:

• What does the FDA Say About Digital Pathology for Nonclinical Toxicology Studies?

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Become a Digital Pathology Trailblazer and See you inside the club: Digital Pathology Club Membership