NPIC: National Pathology Imaging Co-operative
Research type
Research Database
IRAS ID
271547
Contact name
Darren Treanor
Contact email
Research summary
NPIC: National Pathology Imaging Co-operative
REC name
HSC REC B
REC reference
22/NI/0033
Date of REC Opinion
31 Mar 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion
Data collection arrangements
National Pathology Imaging Co-operative (NPIC) is a project to deploy digital pathology scanners across the NHS, allowing pathologists to diagnose cancer using digital images of biopsies instead of a microscope.
This will allow us to obtain second opinions much more quickly in day to day practice, both within labs and across the whole country. But the digital images will also support further research in healthcare, such as the development of artificial intelligence (AI) systems for diagnosing disease.
NPIC consists of a large system for storing these cancer images, and the program supports over 30 hospitals across the NHS. The data is collected in NHS laboratories using digital pathology scanners, linked to laboratory IT systems. The data includes the digital pathology images themselves (very high resolution images of tissue), and the diagnosis made.
NPIC will allow researchers to apply to use these images for medical research and the development of artificial intelligence. If approved data will be shared in format with the identifiable information removed, maintaining patient confidentiality.
Research programme
The images in NPIC support the following types of research: • Research into the causes and diagnosis of cancer, including monitoring the response of patients to cancer treatment • Research into other diseases diagnosed with biopsies of tissue, for example hepatitis, kidney disease and dermatitis • Research in the use of digital imaging, information technology, and artificial intelligence in cancer The research communities supported by NPIC include: • NHS doctors and healthcare workers such as pathologists, oncologists, healthcare scientists and surgeons, as well as NHS staff in training who are doing research • Academics including those in medicine, other life sciences, computer science, and engineering • The life sciences industry including industries creating medical devices (eg scanners, artificial intelligence tools) and pharmaceutical companies (eg developing new drugs or diagnostic devices)
Research database title
NPIC: National Pathology Imaging Co-operative
Establishment organisation
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Establishment organisation address
Beckett St
LS9 7TF