https:\/\/arab.news\/pehem
\tRIYADH: 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.
\tUniversity scientists say they have developed a platform that can generate detailed colored images directly from tissue samples without using the chemical dyes commonly required.
\tIn 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.
\tThis 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.
\tThe team tested 120 patients, with results showing the new method matched standard pathology results in 99 percent of cases, distinguishing healthy tissue from cancer.
\tThey 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.
\t\u201cThis research focuses on improving one of the most important steps in diagnosis \u2014 how tissue samples are prepared and reviewed,\u201d said Qiaoqiang Gan, a professor of materials science and engineering at KAUST.
\t\u201cPreparation 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.\u201d
\tThe platform is being evaluated with clinical partners, including King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, as researchers explore pathways for clinical and commercial use.
\tThe team also ran early tests on breast, lung and thyroid tissue samples, suggesting the approach could eventually be extended beyond colorectal cancer.
\tKAUST said the research combined materials science, biomedical science and computing as part of its Smart Health efforts.<\/p>\n