Multimodality Investigative Pathology: Leveraging the Full Potential of Spatial Pathobiology in Pharmaceutical Therapeutic Discovery and Development

Abstract

Contemporary pathology is increasingly multimodal and requires the application and integration of newer molecular methods to complement classical morphologic evaluation. In diagnostic medical pathology, especially cancer pathology, integrative diagnoses combining morphology, immunohistochemistry, and molecular data including methylation profiling and clinical sequencing are often routine. Such integrative approaches have refined classifications of diseases and enhanced therapeutic decision making. However, in toxicologic pathology, the integration of multiple modalities is relatively nascent. Many pathologists do not have direct and cost-effective access to the information and expertise needed to leverage the availability of advanced molecular modalities. This half-day continuing education course sought to familiarize participants with the evolution of pathology from its early days to state-of-the art applications of molecular, spatial, and computational pathology. The course also aimed to encourage them to implement advanced molecular modalities in their workflows for enhanced understanding of mechanisms of disease and toxicologic processes. This would hopefully facilitate more precise human-relevant translation of preclinical animal model data.