Saswati Das
Associate Professor & Senior Specialist, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences, Guru Govid Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi, India
Biggest challenge in pathology? The phenomenal challenge in pathology is the integration of emerging digital technologies and incorporation of AI in the laboratories. These technologies have phenomenal potential to impact diagnostics in the near future making it more accurate and accessible. However this transition requires huge investment in infrastructure, competency mapping and standardization of protocols. There will be challenges of data privacy, bias, de-skilling, and interoperability during this transition.
Qualities of innovative thinkers? The secret to the mindset of an innovative thinker is to understand and tackle real-world problems. Innovators in diagnostics not only create something novel, but also ensure that it solves a significant healthcare problem. Interdepartmental communication, multidisciplinary collaboration, effective change management, and iterations based on feedback are crucial in bringing an innovation to its full potential. This involves working closely with clinicians, nursing professionals, patients, and other stakeholders to ensure the innovation is effective in a clinical setting.
Exciting developments and trends? The introduction and widespread adoption of next-generation sequencing in diagnostics has been one of the most significant advancements in chemical pathology in the past decade. NGS has revolutionized genomics by enabling comprehensive genomic analysis at an unprecedented scale and speed. Our knowledge of genetic diseases, including rare diseases, has greatly increased because of this technology, creating an opening for new therapeutic targets and personalized medicine. This technology has provided new insights into metabolic disorders and facilitated the discovery of novel biomarkers.
