This strategic partnership initially aims to support the digital scanning of the pathology slides for the 100,000 genomes project, a critical component of Genomics England’s pioneering efforts in genomic research and precision medicine.
Under this partnership, NPIC and CellPath will leverage their combined expertise and technological capabilities to install two high-capacity whole slide imaging scanners on site at Newtown and link them to the NPIC national digital pathology system, using the same quality standards as applied at the central NPIC lab in ĢtvƵ.
In the first instance this partnership will digitise the extensive collection of up to 300,000 archival pathology slides from participants in the 100,000 genomes project, to create a unique pathology-genomics dataset 1. Moving forward, this relationship will also enhance the accessibility and usability of archival slides for research and clinical trials for the whole NHS.
National Pathology Imaging Cooperative underscored the importance of this partnership from both research and clinical perspectives. Dr Daljeet Bansal, NPIC’s Operations Director stated: “This partnership is a significant leap forward in supporting the potential for research and clinical trials, and going forward, the future recall of archival slides for patient benefit. Digitised archival slides can be accessed quickly and efficiently, facilitating faster diagnostic turnaround times for our hospitals and pathologists, and most importantly our patients”.
Dr. Charlotte Jennings, Research Fellow in Digital Pathology at NPIC, added: “The collaboration with CellPath is crucial for advancing the digital imaging of pathology slides. The ability to digitise slides from CellPath’s over 500 million slide archive unlocks a vast potential for research, enabling more detailed and expansive studies that were previously not logistically feasible.”
CellPath Ltd sees this important partnership as a pivotal opportunity for growth and innovation. Lindon Hett, UK Managing Director commented: “Partnering with NPIC is an exciting development for our future. This collaboration not only reinforces our commitment to advancing digital pathology but also positions CellPath and Wales at the forefront of a transformative project that will shape the future of medical research and clinical practice. We are proud to contribute to an initiative that has the potential to improve patient outcomes, initially on a national scale, but with realistic aspirations that it can ultimately deliver improvements around the globe.”
The collaborative effort between NPIC and CellPath Ltd represents a significant advancement in the field of digital pathology, promising to enhance research capabilities, streamline clinical processes, and ultimately improve patient care through the integration of cutting-edge technology.