Revolutionary Imaging Technology for Detailed Disease Mapping in Tissue Samples

Researchers at Aarhus University have pioneered a cutting-edge imaging technique that significantly enhances the analysis of tissue samples, paving the way for more precise disease diagnosis and understanding. This innovative method, called Pathology-oriented multiPlexing or PathoPlex, enables scientists and clinicians to examine over 100 different proteins within a tiny tissue segment simultaneously, surpassing the traditional limitation of analyzing just a few proteins at once.

Published in the prestigious journal Nature, PathoPlex integrates advanced image processing with machine learning algorithms, creating high-resolution disease maps that unveil complex biological processes. This approach offers a new window into the intricacies of human diseases, facilitating earlier detection and more tailored treatments.

One of the remarkable applications showcased in the study involved examining kidney tissue from diabetic patients. The technology revealed intricate, network-wide changes in the kidneys that conventional methods could not detect, including alterations in young patients before any clinical signs of kidney damage appeared. This ability to identify early disease markers holds promise for preemptive interventions.

Additionally, PathoPlex allows for the real-time assessment of how medications affect tissues, providing insights into drug efficacy at a cellular level. For instance, the team studied the impact of SGLT2 inhibitors—common diabetes drugs—and observed that while these medications mitigated some diabetic effects, they did not address all pathological changes, prompting questions about supplementary therapies.

Remarkably, the team has made this technology freely accessible to advance research worldwide. They provide comprehensive computational tools, including a Python package called "spatiomic," and simple, cost-effective solutions such as using a 3D printer for automated tissue analysis.

Though initially focused on kidney diseases, the versatility of PathoPlex extends to other tissues like liver and brain, indicating its broad potential in medical diagnostics. Future efforts aim to automate the process fully, improve benchmarks, and develop clinical applications to bring tangible benefits to patients.

This international, multidisciplinary collaboration underscores the significance of innovative imaging in transforming disease research and personalized medicine.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-07-advanced-imaging-technology-enables-disease.html