Epredia and 3DHISTECH Launch Unique Laboratory Internship Program at Pathology Innovation Incubator in Budapest.

Budapest, Hungary
December 28, 2023

Two fourth-year medical students at Semmelweis University of Medical Sciences will have the opportunity to conduct research for a semester at the Pathology Innovation Incubator, a joint project of two leading pathology and diagnostics companies, 3DHISTECH of Hungary and Epredia, part of PHC Group (headquartered in Japan). The Pathology Innovation Incubator is a research and development laboratory in Budapest that aims to develop methods and tools for faster and more accurate diagnosis of cancer and tumor lesions, to ultimately improve the care and treatment of patients suffering from cancer.

Epredia and 3DHISTECH are commercial partners in digital slide scanning technology for pathology laboratories. The two companies designed the Pathology Innovation Incubator, launched in March with support from the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, to enable the practical implementation of scientific and theoretical ideas.

The first two students selected for the internship program, Haruka Nishida and Kaito Skyler Senuma Pang, will spend the semester working on histological diagnosis of tumors and identification of tumor biomarkers. In addition to deepening their practical knowledge, the medical students will have the opportunity to learn about the processes and challenges of product development, including new innovative solutions for cancer diagnostics. After the internship, which targeted international students studying in Hungary with cooperation and support of the Embassy of Japan in Hungary, the students will also have the opportunity to stay involved in the work of the Pathology Innovation Incubator or even in future scientific research in cooperation with Semmelweis University.

"Higher education in Hungary - and medical education in particular - is of a very high quality, so it is not surprising that many international students study here. Building on this knowledge base, technological research and development in cancer diagnostics continues to offer new opportunities and a range of innovative solutions. Product development is a multi-disciplinary collaboration and we would like to involve medical students in this exciting process. The dedication and creativity of these young professionals can contribute to the success of the whole team. I do believe that students will benefit from this attitude, from learning about innovative technologies and development processes, and that patients, colleagues and scientists will benefit from it later on."

- Balázs Liposits, Chief Strategy Officer at Epredia

Based on the positive experience of the internship program so far, Epredia and 3DHISTECH are already planning for the longer term. For instance, the Pathology Innovation Incubator hopes to benefit from the interns’ medical school experience with digital imaging to help validate and implement new, innovative digital imaging technologies, and ultimately enable more effective treatment of cancer.

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About 3DHISTECH

Founded in 1996, the Hungarian-based 3DHISTECH is the first European manufacturer of digital pathology, and one of the global market leaders. 3DHISTECH is one of the pioneers in digital pathology, developing and manufacturing digital slide scanners, software applications for digital slides, and other products, including tissue microarray machinery – supporting not only routine human pathology but also medical and pharmaceutical research, medical education, veterinary pathology as well as geology.

We commit our human and financial resources entirely to the development of digital pathology solutions. 3DHISTECH is dedicated to providing clinical pathologists, researchers, and universities with digital pathology solutions to facilitate quick and accurate diagnostics, support medical discoveries, and foster education. Our long-term goal is to fully digitalize the traditional pathology workflow, so that it can adapt to the ever-growing demands of healthcare today, significantly reducing diagnostic time and optimizing routine diagnostics and developments in cancer research.

About Epredia

Epredia is a global leader in the anatomical pathology field, providing comprehensive solutions for precision cancer diagnostics and tissue diagnostics. Powered by key brands, including Erie Scientific, Menzel-Gläser, Microm, Shandon, and Richard-Allan Scientific, Epredia’s portfolio includes microscope slides, instruments and consumables. Epredia was established following the acquisition of Thermo Fisher Scientific’s Anatomical Pathology business by PHC Holdings in 2019. Epredia has operations in major sites in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland and China with a total of around 1,200 employees. Epredia is committed to achieving its mission to improve lives by enhancing cancer diagnostics for patients around the world. For further information on Epredia and its products, please visit www.epredia.com.

About PHC Holdings Corporation (PHC Group)

PHC Holdings Corporation (TSE 6523) is a global healthcare company with a mission of contributing to the health of society through healthcare solutions that have a positive impact and improve the lives of people. Its subsidiaries (referred to collectively as PHC Group) include PHC Corporation, Epredia, Ascensia Diabetes Care, LSI Medience Corporation, Mediford, and Wemex. Together, these companies develop, manufacture, sell and service solutions across diabetes management, healthcare solutions, life sciences and diagnostics. PHC Group’s consolidated net sales in FY2022 were JPY 356.4 billion with global distribution of products and services in more than 125 countries.
www.phchd.com

For more information, please contact:

Julia Cottrill
PHC Group Corporate Communications
Email: julia.cottrill@phchd.com