The first step for successfully implementing a digital pathology system is workflow standardization.
In addition to its beautiful landscapes and coves, I found it more than interesting to see a place where digital pathology is embraced by pathology laboratories. The pathology lab at the Helse Stavanger has done impressive work adapting its workflow using WSI. Besides acquiring a scanner, all tissue processing was standardized, including formalin fixation, gross sectioning, staining, immunohistochemistry, and all other molecular studies. The first step for successfully implementing a digital pathology system is workflow standardization. They also know the importance of precision medicine in oncology, where they are creating a novel way to approach these patients with such complex diseases. In the IMPRESS project, patients are studied by their tumor type, the molecular profile of the tumor, and the study drug. From different locations in Norway, a multidisciplinary team of oncologists, pathologists, molecular biologists, and bioinformaticians discuss the disease from the perspective of each patient, providing an excellent example of how patients should be treated.
In addition to participating in Norway’s national NGS training course, I received personal training with members of the molecular biology team. I learned how to analyze the results from NGS platforms.
All the projects and the research ideas developing in this place amazed me and delighted me with what I learned.
I look forward to coming back and expecting what they will achieve in the future!
Andrés Mosquera-Zamudio – ESR12