Majority of Diagnostic Laboratory Leaders Bet Big on Digital Pathology and AI

Survey of 360 senior professionals finds modernization is key to overcoming longstanding industry challenges

/EIN News/ -- PHILADELPHIA, June 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Diagnostic laboratory leaders view digital pathology and artificial intelligence (AI) as pivotal to advancing precision medicine. This perspective comes as organizations across the sector prioritize modernization and seek trusted partners to support their transformation, according to research released today.

The 2025 Laboratory Leadership Report, 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.

Nathan Buchbinder, Chief Strategy Officer at Proscia, said: “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.”

Staffing Shortages and Financial Pressures Fuel Modernization
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 issues outweigh other pain points, including regulatory compliance and keeping pace with emerging tests and technologies.

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%). These findings reflect a shift away from short-term fixes and toward longer-term transformation powered by solutions including digital pathology and AI.

AI-Driven Pathology Advances Precision Medicine
As laboratories modernize to overcome mounting pressures, many are simultaneously laying the foundation for precision medicine. According to the report, 86% of senior professionals believe that precision medicine has moved beyond the hype.

Leaders most often associate it with measurable benefits: more effective therapies (80%), more accurate diagnoses (75%), and improved patient outcomes (61%). Some also point to increased collaboration with pharmaceutical companies (23%), reflecting growing recognition of new revenue opportunities in the precision medicine era.

A majority (59%) say that digital pathology and AI will be highly or extremely impactful in realizing precision medicine, reinforcing their central role in the laboratory’s long-term transformation.

Trusted Partnerships Are Key to Digital Pathology and AI Adoption
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.

This mindset extends to technology selection as well. Laboratory leaders express a clear preference for solutions that are both comprehensive and intuitive, with 47% prioritizing breadth of functionality and 45% valuing user experience as key product attributes.

Explore the Full Report
Access The 2025 Laboratory Leadership Report to explore the complete survey findings.

Today’s Clinical Lab will also host a webinar featuring Proscia’s Nathan Buchbinder and Dr. Bilal R. Ahmad, Hematopathologist at Spectrum Healthcare Partners. Register to attend “Survey Insights on Pathology's Transformation to AI and Precision Medicine from Laboratory Leadership” on July 16.

About Proscia
Proscia is a software company accelerating pathology’s transition to a digital, data-driven discipline and enabling AI to advance precision medicine. Its Concentriq enterprise pathology platform, precision medicine AI portfolio, and real-world data fuel the development and use of novel therapies and diagnostics to drive the fight against humanity’s most challenging diseases, like cancer. 16 of the top 20 pharmaceutical companies and a global network of diagnostic laboratories rely on Proscia’s solutions each day. The company has FDA 510(k) clearance and CE-IVDR certification for its diagnostic software. For more information, visit proscia.com, and follow Proscia on LinkedIn and X.

Contact:
Sydney Fenkell
VP, Marketing Communications
sydney@proscia.com
215.816.3436