Invited Talk by Dr. Yukako Yagi

Prof. Yukako Yagi (Harvard Medical School) will give a talk on Imaging Application in Pathology. She is one of the pioneers in digital pathology, 3D histology, and the automation of the pathology process.

Abstract: Digital Pathology is a relatively new field in medicine and still developing stage for clinical use. However, conventional pathology is rapidly shifting towards digital integration. After the Whole Slide Imaging Robot became available to produce virtual slides automatically, rapidly and a high resolution, many issues and limitations we had with telepathology and pathology imaging seemed to be solved. The combination of the WSI and Image Analysis can be very helpful for pathologists if it works right. We have developing the algorithm and protocol to improve the image quality and reliability to make images useful in practice. To promote imaging, we have developed several applications and tools including 1) an automated, image analysis algorithm that is trainable for various purposes and 2) histology 3D imaging, 3) a ultra fast WSI viewing system. Advanced imaging research such as multispectral imaging for digital staining is moving to the validation study. Research and efforts to validate WSI systems for diagnostic settings are ongoing.

Biography: Yukako Yagi started her career as an electrical engineer in Japan, to develop robotic microscopes and their applications. In 1995 she won a Nikon Fellowship for two research years in teleradiology and pathology at Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. She was Director of Technologies Management at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center where she developed and implemented telepathology systems for organ transplantation, frozen section and 2nd opinion consultations. She established clinical and technical standards for whole slide imaging systems. She received her Doctorate in Medical Science in 2007 from Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo. Dr. Yagi came to Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, in 2007 and is now Director of the Pathology Imaging and Communication Technology Center at MGH. She is Assistant Professor of Pathology at Harvard Medical School and the 1st President of the International Academy of Digital Pathology.