Sinai Health receives $1-million gift to strengthen digital pathology

TORONTO – Sinai Health is celebrating a $1-million gift that will facilitate the digital transformation of its internationally recognized pathology and laboratory medicine program at Mount Sinai Hospital. The gift, generously made by The Savvas Chamberlain Family Foundation, will continue to establish Sinai Health’s leadership in providing quality laboratory medical services, education and research by making it possible to incorporate innovative new technologies into department workflows.

In digital pathology, the traditional physical slides used in the lab are replaced with a high-resolution digital image of the sample, captured by a specialized scanner. These images can be viewed and enlarged on a computer, reconstructed into a 3D view of the sample, mapped for known biomarkers of disease, and easily compared against other samples to determine if the specimen has been prepared correctly. They can also be quickly and securely shared with leading global experts, to collect real-time consultation and provide timely diagnoses.

“Diagnosis is the foundation of effective treatment for a wide range of medical conditions including cancers. With rapidly advancing technologies, digital pathology presents an incredible opportunity to unlock new avenues for diagnostic research, facilitate real-time collaboration with other Ontario hospitals and with global colleagues, and provide faster, more precise diagnoses for patients,” said Dr. Rita Kandel (pictured), chief of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Sinai Health.

This digital transformation also has implications for future research, especially related to sarcoma and other cancers. Researchers will be able to leverage the advanced capabilities made possible through digital pathology, to build a new understanding of cancer biology and identify molecular markers – hopefully leading to groundbreaking research on cancer treatments and therapeutics.

“We believe that healthy communities start with healthy individuals. That’s why we are proud to support the digital transformation of the pathology and laboratory medicine program at Sinai Health. Our aim is to see the adaptation and incorporation of Canadian innovations by Mount Sinai Hospital, and other Ontario hospitals, to advance the fight against cancer,” said Dr. Savvas Chamberlain, president and director of the Savvas Chamberlain Family Foundation.

He continued, “We know this investment will continue to build on the high-quality care and research conducted by the team, impacting patients across Ontario and beyond.”

“As a leader in laboratory medicine, this investment represents an institutional shift in how Sinai Health approaches pathology diagnostics, allowing us to remain on the cutting-edge of technology and to continue delivering and discovering life-changing care for patients at Sinai Health and beyond. We are deeply grateful to Dr. Chamberlain, his family and the foundation for this investment in the future of research and world-class care,” said Louis de Melo, president and CEO of Sinai Health Foundation.