How Pictor Labs is turning tissue into data to revolutionize diagnosis

Histopathology, the practice of examining tissue under a microscope to diagnose diseases, is a cornerstone of modern medicine. It enables clinicians to confirm conditions like cancer, assess disease progression, and guide treatment plans. However, the fundamental technology behind this process has remained largely unchanged for over a century. When a biopsy is sent to a laboratory for testing, it is sliced into paper-thin sections that are dipped into a sequence of chemical dyes. These dyes "stain" the tissue samples, revealing hidden cellular structures that help doctors make diagnoses.

Despite its importance, the conventional staining process can be slow and resource-intensive. Labs often batch samples together, leading to delays in delivering results to doctors. These results may then take even longer to move through reporting systems, consultations, and scheduling before patients can receive appropriate treatment. Furthermore, traditional staining workflows consume and alter tissue sections, leaving less material available for subsequent critical steps such as molecular diagnostics, genetic sequencing, and other precision medicine processes.

Yair Rivenson, co-founder and CEO of digital pathology startup Pictor Labs, encountered these challenges firsthand while working as a researcher at UCLA in 2019. Alongside co-founder Aydogan Ozcan, Rivenson was involved in deep learning microscopy research with tissue samples. The reliance on limited physical tissue samples in an era of digital and AI advancements struck him as inefficient. "For me," he reflected, "the question was immediately, why can't we teach a computer to do that? Why do we need the chemistry part?"

Pictor Labs was founded to address this question by simulating the staining process. "The information is there," Rivenson explained. "We can basically image the tissue, edit it as it is in its native form, and compute that contrast so that the pathologist can study the same exact tissue in the exact same way that they're currently doing."

The company's technology leverages advanced imaging and machine learning algorithms to create digital staining. This approach eliminates the need for chemical dyes, reducing the time and resources required for tissue preparation. By preserving the original tissue samples, Pictor Labs enables pathologists to retain more material for further analysis, such as molecular diagnostics or genetic sequencing. This not only accelerates the diagnostic process but also enhances the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the information available to healthcare providers.

Rivenson and Ozcan's vision for Pictor Labs is to revolutionize histopathology by transforming the way tissue is analyzed. By replacing chemical staining with digital simulations, the startup aims to streamline workflows, reduce costs, and ultimately improve patient outcomes. As the demand for faster, more efficient, and precise medical diagnoses continues to grow, Pictor Labs is poised to play a pivotal role in modernizing the field of pathology and advancing the frontiers of precision medicine.

In the future, Pictor Labs plans to expand its technology to include additional types of tissue and diagnostic applications. The company's goal is to make digital pathology a standard practice across healthcare institutions, ensuring that clinicians have access to the most advanced tools and resources for making informed decisions about patient care.

The journey of Pictor Labs from a research idea to a groundbreaking startup highlights the transformative potential of combining cutting-edge technology with a deep understanding of medical needs. By turning tissue into data, the company is not only revolutionizing the field of histopathology but also paving the way for a new era of diagnostic excellence in medicine.