About the biomarker imaging research laboratory

The Biomarker Imaging Research Laboratory (BIRL) is a cutting-edge research facility that develops new histopathology techniques and image-processing tools to enable imaging pathology correlation analyses in cancer and other diseases. It is a fundamental resource within the Centre for Research in Image-Guided Therapeutics and a core Lab that provides services to internal and external academic and industry customers.

A key focus of the lab is biomarker panel development, and validation and application through the use of  multiplexing technologies. Our immuno-fluorescence multiplexing (MxIF) digital systems provide cellular quantitative information that help characterize cancer and its microenvironment for precision therapies and better disease management.

There are currently two multiplexing systems in the laboratory: CellDIVE (Leica) and PhenoCycler Fusion (Akoya Biosciences).

We support imaging studies that combine MxIF, molecular profiling and imaging by developing image-processing algorithms for digital pathology and in vivo medical imaging.

One of BIRL’s unique skills is the production of large, whole organ diagnostic slides through an alternative tissue-processing method called “whole mount”. Over the years the lab developed a full range of digital whole-mount histopathology techniques that produce large (up to 5” x 7”) tissue slides from breast, prostate, tongue, colon, pancreas and brain cancer, brain and other tissue samples.

The lab conducts its own and offers support for clinical studies and clinical trials. It operates under the licence and supervision of the department of anatomic pathology of the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.

It has implemented clinical standards for quality control and process monitoring, including clinically compatible tissue tracking and sample storage systems (STS). Several state-of-the-art digitizers are available to accommodate various sample sizes, and to perform bright field and fluorescence scanning of regular and large whole-mount slides.

In collaboration with other labs, our work is focused on quantitative 3-D histopathology, including automated image processing and computer detection of structures. As a core lab, BIRL is also providing pathology services, both regular and whole mount, for preclinical research studies for imaging interventions in cancer, cardiac, neuro, regenerative medicine and other areas of research.