ACSR Partners with Proscia to Accelerate Global HIV Cancer Research Through Advanced Digital Pathology Platform
In a recent development for the scientific community, the AIDS and Cancer Specimen Resource (ACSR) has enhanced its ability to provide swift access to valuable pathology data for researchers worldwide. The ACSR, established in 1994 and funded by the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health, has integrated Proscia's Concentriq® for Research platform into its operations. This integration marks a pivotal shift in the availability and distribution of critical research data, particularly for those investigating HIV-related cancers.
The primary function of the ACSR is to collect, store, and distribute biospecimens and associated clinical data from persons living with HIV (PLWH) to the global scientific community. Researchers utilize these resources to advance diagnostic and treatment strategies for HIV-associated malignancies. Recognizing the transformative potential of digital pathology, which replaces traditional microscopy with high-resolution imaging, the ACSR has adopted Proscia's technology to expedite and expand access to its data repository.
Dr. Paige Bracci, UCSF Professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and Director of the ACSR’s Informatics program, highlighted the significance of Proscia's platform. She noted that Concentriq for Research has enabled the ACSR to rapidly leverage the benefits of digital pathology, making this vital data more accessible to a broader range of researchers. This advancement is not only beneficial to the scientific community but also has a direct impact on patients affected by HIV-associated cancers.
Since implementing Concentriq for Research, the ACSR has dramatically reduced the time required to deliver pathology data to researchers—from days to mere hours. The platform's ability to share digital images instead of physical glass slides has broken down geographical barriers, allowing multiple research teams to access the same datasets simultaneously. This approach also promotes the conservation of rare tissue specimens, making them available to a larger pool of researchers.
David West, CEO of Proscia, expressed pride in the ACSR's inclusion in the Concentriq community. He emphasized the ACSR's role in enabling breakthrough research with its pathology data and the significant improvements in access facilitated by Proscia's platform.
In addition to these advancements, the ACSR has announced the availability of a unique melanoma tissue repository on the Concentriq for Research platform. A tissue microarray of these tumor tissues is expected to be accessible in early 2024.
The ACSR biorepository contains a diverse collection of specimens from PLWH, with a focus on various conditions, especially cancers, in both the pre and post-HAART (Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy) era. Its mission encompasses the acquisition, storage, and equitable distribution of these specimens and related clinical data to support HIV-related research.
Proscia, the software company behind Concentriq, specializes in advancing digital pathology. Its platform and AI applications are steering the centuries-old standard of research and diagnosis towards a data-centric discipline. This shift is unlocking new insights that are accelerating R&D, enhancing patient outcomes, and bringing us closer to the realization of precision care. Proscia's software is widely used by leading diagnostic laboratories and major pharmaceutical companies globally.
