David Rimm

Equity Interest - Non-publicly traded entity ( e.g., stock, stock option, or other ownership interest)

(PQC2)High-content Pathology with Confocal Microscope Arrays

Precision in surgical removal of cancer is guided by pathological assessment of resected tissues, and there is a dire need to reduce the time and distance between the critical diagnostic events and the surgical procedure. Here we propose to develop tools that reveal histopathology with cellular resolution, and eventually molecular specificity, on fresh resected tissues that can be used on the cutting bench in the surgical pathology suite. The core technology is a series of arrayed miniaturized confocal microscopes that allow rapid examination of tissue margins to guide the pathologist and inform the surgeon ensuring complete removal of the cancer and preservation of normal tissue. We will first apply these tools to surgical removal of head and neck cancers where microscopic techniques are current used. Although this is a relatively limited context, the future potential for microscope arrays is substantial. There are many resection specimens where margins are inadequately sampled due to the inefficiency of current sampling methods. Arrays of mini-microscopes could allow comprehensive en face examination of the entire lumpectomy specimen. These tools could be present at surgical pathology bench to provide instant feedback and prospective quality control for specimens submitted for microscopic evaluation. In the future we envision the images so faithfully reproducing the H&E image that no further processing would need to be done on some (or eventually most) specimens. Such a process could eliminate the histology lab from evaluation of most specimens leading to a significant savings in time and cost.