Digital pathology and AI emerge as transformative solutions for laboratory modernisation
Laboratory leaders worldwide are embracing digital pathology and artificial intelligence as essential tools to address mounting staffing shortages and financial pressures whilst advancing precision medicine initiatives. A comprehensive survey of 360 senior professionals reveals overwhelming confidence in AI-driven pathology’s readiness for clinical implementation.
Diagnostic laboratory leaders view digital pathology and artificial intelligence (AI) as pivotal to advancing precision medicine, according to research released by Proscia in collaboration with The Dark Intelligence Group. The findings underscore a critical inflection point where laboratories are moving beyond incremental fixes towards comprehensive technological transformation. The 2025 Laboratory Leadership Report | https://go.proscia.com/2025-Laboratory-Leadership-Report | (published June 2025), based on a survey conducted by
The Dark Intelligence Group on behalf of Proscia, captures insights from 360 senior professionals representing independent, hospital, and academic laboratories. The research reveals laboratories operating under significant strain whilst simultaneously positioning themselves for precision medicine advancement.
Staffing shortages drive automation priorities
According to The 2025 Laboratory Leadership Report, 38% of laboratory leaders cite staffing shortages as their most significant challenge, and 31% highlight declining reimbursements as their top concern. These systemic pressures have catalysed a strategic shift away from short-term solutions towards transformative technology adoption.
To address these challenges, laboratory leaders are increasingly turning to technology. Their top-ranked opportunities are automation to drive efficiency (30%), molecular and genetic testing (29%), and AI to enable precise, accurate diagnoses (25%). The findings demonstrate laboratories recognising that incremental approaches are insufficient for addressing fundamental structural challenges. Nathan Buchbinder, Chief Strategy Officer at Proscia, emphasised the market’s readiness for transformation: “We’re seeing a clear signal from the market. Laboratory leaders believe that AI-driven pathology is not only ready, but essential to meeting the demands of modern healthcare. They’re now focused on getting adoption right – especially as strain from persistent industry challenges continues to intensify.”
Precision medicine moves beyond conceptual framework
The survey reveals a maturation in how laboratory professionals perceive precision medicine. According to the report, 86% of senior professionals believe that precision medicine has moved beyond the hype. This represents a significant shift from viewing precision medicine as an aspirational concept to recognising it as an achievable clinical reality.
Leaders most often associate it with measurable benefits: more effective therapies (80%), more accurate diagnoses (75%), and improved patient outcomes (61%). Notably, some also point to increased collaboration with pharmaceutical companies (23%), reflecting growing recognition of new revenue opportunities in the precision medicine era.
Digital pathology positioned as precision medicine enabler
Perhaps most significantly, a majority (59%) say that digital pathology and AI will be highly or extremely impactful in realising precision medicine, reinforcing their central role in the laboratory’s long-term transformation. This finding positions digital pathology not merely as an efficiency tool but as fundamental infrastructure for precision medicine delivery. The survey data indicates that laboratory leaders associate precision medicine primarily with data-driven approaches (66%) and patient-specific treatments (40%), rather than molecular data alone (12%). This broader conceptualisation suggests recognition that multiple data modalities, including histopathological analysis enhanced by AI, will be essential for precision medicine success.
Vendor partnerships emphasise trust and vision
The strategic importance of AI-driven pathology is also reflected in what laboratory leaders value most when selecting a technology vendor. According to the report, 64% cite reputation, 54% name customer references, and 46% identify future vision as one of their top vendor criteria, underscoring the need for trusted, long-term relationships to support lasting change.
When evaluating technology solutions, laboratory leaders express a clear preference for solutions that are both comprehensive and intuitive, with 47% prioritising breadth of functionality and 45% valuing user experience as key product attributes. This preference for comprehensive platforms suggests laboratories are seeking integrated solutions rather than point technologies.
Clinical implementation accelerating globally
The research indicates that digital pathology adoption is moving from pilot programmes to clinical implementation. Proscia’s platform exemplifies this trend, with projections indicating over 8 million patients will receive diagnoses through their Concentriq platform in 2025. The company reports that 16 of the top 20 pharmaceutical companies currently utilise their solutions, alongside a global network of diagnostic laboratories.
Future implications for pathology practice
The survey findings suggest laboratories are approaching a fundamental transformation period. The convergence of mounting operational pressures and technological readiness appears to be creating optimal conditions for digital pathology adoption. This transformation extends beyond simple digitisation to encompass AI-enhanced diagnostic capabilities that could redefine pathology practice standards.
The emphasis on precision medicine integration indicates that future digital pathology implementations will likely focus on generating actionable clinical insights rather than merely improving workflow efficiency. This evolution positions pathology laboratories as active contributors to precision medicine initiatives rather than passive service providers.
Reference:
Proscia. (2025). The 2025 Laboratory Leadership Report: Insights on Digital Pathology, AI, and Precision Medicine.
The Dark Intelligence Group.
