New imaging technology will accelerate cancer diagnosis – Arab News PK

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RIYADH: Researchers at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology have unveiled a stain-free biopsy imaging method that could speed up cancer diagnosis and support artificial intelligence-assisted pathology in the future.
University scientists say they have developed a platform that can generate detailed colored images directly from tissue samples without using the chemical dyes commonly required.
In many labs today, tissue is stained to help pathologists see cellular patterns under a microscope. While widely used, the process can add time to diagnostic workflows.
This new method uses engineered silicon slides to create color-like images from tissue without dyes. The technology was first tested on colorectal tissue samples, an area of growing importance in Saudi Arabia.
The team tested 120 patients, with results showing the new method matched standard pathology results in 99 percent of cases, distinguishing healthy tissue from cancer.
They reported a reduction in preparation time, saying early results indicated this could be lowered by 40-50 percent with improved consistency by reducing the variability linked to staining conditions.
“This research focuses on improving one of the most important steps in diagnosis — how tissue samples are prepared and reviewed,” said Qiaoqiang Gan, a professor of materials science and engineering at KAUST.
“Preparation steps, reagent quality, and laboratory conditions can influence traditional staining methods. By generating consistent digital images without dyes, we can reduce variability and create data that is more reliable for both clinical review and future AI-assisted analysis.”
The platform is being evaluated with clinical partners, including King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, as researchers explore pathways for clinical and commercial use.
The team also ran early tests on breast, lung and thyroid tissue samples, suggesting the approach could eventually be extended beyond colorectal cancer.
KAUST said the research combined materials science, biomedical science and computing as part of its Smart Health efforts.

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