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The Glasgow Tissue Research Facility (GTRF) works closely with the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) Biorepository to provide cancer researchers at the University of Glasgow, and beyond, with a central facility for tissue-based research. Situated within the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow (one of the largest pathology departments in Europe), the GTRF bridges the gap between pre-clinical and clinical research in the West of Scotland.
Credit: Neil Miller Photography
The GTRF assists with the retrieval of tissue samples from the NHSGGC biorepository, tissue preparation, tissue staining with antibodies to detect specific cell types or biomarkers and analysis of the complex cellular architecture of these samples using digital pathology, producing dynamic digital images of tumour tissue samples.
This use of digital pathology has dramatically changed our understanding of different pathological processes such as cancer. By understanding these pathological processes at the cellular and molecular level, we can develop better diagnostics and new therapies.
Artificial intelligence (AI) tools can be applied to assist in the interpretation and quantification of biomarker expression within tumour tissue samples.
Beatson Cancer Charity awarded a £139,786 grant to the GTRF for developing its digital pathology services by adding AI capabilities through the Visiopharm® platform. This software will enable researchers to apply cutting-edge machine learning algorithms to the analysis of tumour tissue images which will help to produce a deeper level of analysis and automate time-consuming processes.
The funding will also be used to conduct a research project aiming to improve early detection and our understanding of how colorectal cancer develops.
Credit: Neil Miller Photography
Colorectal cancer is the 3rd most common cancer-related death in Scotland. Considerable progress has been made over the last 20 years in reducing morbidity and mortality related to colorectal cancer. This has predominantly been achieved through earlier detection, screening and improved surgery/anaesthetics, resulting in a steady decline over time in mortality and an increase in survival rates in Scotland. However, Scotland still has one of the highest rates of colorectal cancer in the Western world.
The GTRF is supporting the INCISE project, a University of Glasgow-led collaboration with NHSGGC, Canon Medical Research, BioClavis and OracleBio. The INCISE project aims to transform bowel cancer screening in the UK by developing a tool that can predict which patients with precancerous growths in their bowels, called polyps, will develop further polyps. Overall, this could reduce the number of people needing repeated colonoscopy and help to accurately know who may have further polyps. The GTRF received a Scottish Life Science Award for its INCISE support work.
In this Beatson Cancer Charity funded project, researchers will use the new AI technology to analyse a cohort of patient tissue samples from the INCISE project. They will specifically investigate biomarkers which, up until now, have been too difficult to analyse. Their analysis will be aligned with clinical data to identify novel biomarkers for the early detection of colorectal cancer. This work will help to accelerate the pace of biomarker discovery to take forward into clinical work which will directly benefit Beatson patients in the future. The team will also investigate immune markers in an existing cohort of patient tissue samples. This work will develop a better understanding of how polyps in the colon develop into cancer and how we can prevent it from happening.
By incorporating the latest AI image analysis software, GTRF will significantly enhance the type of analysis that can be performed and accelerate research from clinical trials. As a result, it will increase the amount of high-quality research output within a shorter timeframe. This will lead to more novel biomarker targets being identified and enable the development of new tailored treatments for Beatson patients. This investment will also support translational research projects involving other tumour types.
Credit: Neil Miller Photography
