Dr. Amalyan explained how cancer biopsies are labeled by hand in Ukrainian laboratories and what the solution to this problem is
8 August 21:16
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Tigran Amalyan, a Ukrainian entrepreneur and doctor by training, spoke about a significant technological gap in Ukraine’s cancer diagnosis system — the still-widespread practice of manually labeling biopsy samples, which creates risks of errors in cancer diagnosis. He discussed this in an interview with the "Komersant Ukrainian" YouTube channel, detailing the development of the Cor-LAB software and hardware complex, the implementation of which he initiated in 2023.
Amalyan described in detail the standard process for handling biopsy material in laboratories, emphasizing that what is fundamentally new is not the diagnostic procedure itself, but the method of labeling the samples.
“Look, a biopsy is taken. Then it’s delivered to the lab. Next, the doctor identifies the area where atypical cells are suspected and makes what’s called a section. After that, the sample is placed in a special cassette… We’re not doing anything new here. We’re simply installing a software and hardware system that automatically labels these cassettes. In other words, instead of writing with a pencil, a QR code is applied using laser marking,” the entrepreneur explained.
According to him, the key advantage of the technology is the ability to digitize samples and consult remotely with doctors around the world without physically shipping the slides.
“We can scan the slide, view the image on a monitor, and use neural networks… We can review the image and send it to another doctor—in another country or at another medical facility—to get a second opinion or consultation. If necessary, they can also scan this QR code to view the materials,” Amalyan explained.
The entrepreneur emphasized that ignoring the problem of manual labeling can have serious consequences for diagnostic accuracy.
At the same time, Amalyan candidly acknowledged that the large-scale implementation of the system in Ukrainian laboratories is a lengthy and costly process, since the technology involves both hardware and software developed in-house by the company.
“This is a very serious project. First, it requires a budget in the millions. Second, it consists of two parts: the hardware—that is, the equipment—and the software, which we develop ourselves. Therefore, its implementation and certification will take time,” the entrepreneur concluded, adding that the product is currently in the testing phase.
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