How digital pathology is set to unlock new levels of capability and care at Unilabs

Technological advancements continuously shape how diagnoses are made, treatments are planned, and patient outcomes are improved. One such ground-breaking innovation is digital pathology, a diagnostic approach that is transforming the way pathologists, healthcare providers, and researchers approach patient care. By leveraging high-resolution imaging, artificial intelligence (AI)-powered analysis, and seamless collaboration tools, digital pathology is revolutionising diagnostics. In this article, we speak with medical pathologist and Unilabs’ Digital Transformation Lead for Switzerland, Dr Antonin Bouroumeau, about how digital pathology is helping Unilabs to redefine precision medicine.

Demystifying digital pathology

At its core, digital pathology involves the conversion of glass slides used in traditional pathology into high-quality digital images that can be analysed on a computer. This transition is made possible through advanced scanning technology, known as Whole Slide Imaging (WSI). WSI captures entire slides, providing a digital equivalent of the glass slide, with identical image quality and a magnified view of tissue samples. Pathologists can review, diagnose, and share these images with their colleagues anywhere in the world, unlocking new levels of efficiency and collaboration. 

Dr Bouroumeau says Unilabs is now in an advanced stage of its digital pathology transformation in Switzerland. “We’ve been integrating elements of digital pathology and AI across our network for some time; now we are scaling these efforts and strategically implementing a national rollout. By the end of 2025 we will have all the infrastructure, software, and hardware we need to launch our first full digital pathology lab in 2026. This rollout will follow a dedicated training phase for our pathologists and laboratory technicians, an essential step before digital pathology becomes part of our routine operations.”

A new era for precision medicine

Digital pathology also paves the way for the use of AI tools in diagnosis, treatment planning, and more. AI algorithms, such as machine learning and image recognition software, can assist pathologists in identifying abnormalities within tissue samples with remarkable precision. These algorithms are trained on vast amounts of data, enabling them to spot patterns and subtle changes that are invisible to the human eye, which can, for example, help to predict the molecular characteristics of a tumour.

Dr Bouroumeau says Unilabs is already leading in the digital pathology space in Switzerland through the use of the IBEX Prostate AI tool. “This machine learning tool assists our pathologists in diagnosing prostate cancer from tissue samples. As with all diseases, the earlier an issue can be detected, the better the outcomes for patients. Our use of AI is about getting the most accurate and timely results for the patients and healthcare providers we serve.”

Peace of mind for pathologists

The switch to digital pathology poses numerous benefits to Unilabs’ pathologists too. The technology enables pathologists, oncologists, radiologists, and other specialists to access the same high-resolution images, discuss cases in real-time, and collaborate remotely from wherever in the world they happen to be. “Gone will be the days of needing to wait for an expert pathologist to be physically present at the local lab. Through our digital pathology capability, we will create an international virtual network of experts; our pathologists can lean on each other’s expertise and insights to verify results, or seek second options.”

He says the real-time collaboration enables faster and more confident results. ”When you go digital you can achieve around 10% faster turnaround. This means you can take on additional cases, or spend more time innovating. Indeed, digital pathology and AI also open exciting new avenues for medical research, enabling discoveries that will likely lead to more personalised patient care and further advance precision medicine.”

Empowering Unilabs’ experts

Dr Bouroumeau is quick to stress that digital pathology is in no way a replacement for Unilabs’ experts, rather it will amplify the expertise of pathologists to advance personalised medicine. “By combining pathology data with other diagnostic tools, such as genomics and molecular profiling, Unilabs can empower healthcare providers to develop treatment plans that are tailored specifically to the individual patient. Digital pathology will empower our experts with standardised quality, reduced turnaround times, and the ability to implement AI tools in routine care, thereby strengthening customised treatment plans.”