Send us a textIs your lab truly digitally ready—or just scanning slides?That’s the question I unpack in this live discussion from Day 2 of SITC’s 40th Anniversary Meeting, joined by David Anderson (Biocare Medical) and Don Ariyakumar (Hamamatsu Photonics). Together, we explore what digital readiness really means for multiplex immunofluorescence (mIF) and how to build reliable, reproducible workflows that scale from research to clinical settings.What We DiscussThe Discovery Funnel I open by situating mIF within the broader discovery funnel: researchers begin with hundreds of biomarkers, narrowing down to focused 4–10 marker panels where true clinical utility begins. But this only works if the lab is digitally prepared from the start—from slide prep to data capture.Defining Digital Readiness David Anderson reframes digital readiness as everything that happens before the scanner turns on:Reagent consistencyAntibody optimizationAutomationStandardized protocols All these elements ensure that downstream AI and image analysis tools work on clean, reproducible data instead of “fixing” noise later.The Pre-Analytical Foundation Don Ariyakumar emphasizes that scanning can’t fix variability. If staining or section quality isn’t standardized, digitization simply amplifies inconsistencies. True readiness starts at the bench, not the monitor.Integration Across Vendors We also talk about how interoperability between stainers, scanners, and spatial biology software is becoming essential. A disconnected workflow—mixing manual, unaligned steps—adds variables that no algorithm can fully normalize.Lessons from IHC’s Evolution The team draws parallels between multiplex IF today and IHC’s early days: once complex, now routine. Multiplex IF promises even richer tumor microenvironment insights, but only if standardization and automation catch up to the technology.Beyond the Funnel I revisit the “funnel” metaphor in a new light—arguing that as precision medicine grows, the bottom of the funnel broadens, not narrows. That means more tailored, smaller panels rather than one-size-fits-all assays, and a growing need for efficient, reproducible digital workflows.Key Takeaways“Digital readiness” starts before scanning — with chemistry, automation, and process control.Consistent pre-analytical quality = reproducible, AI-ready data.Interoperability between systems (like Biocare’s ONCORE Pro X and Hamamatsu’s MoxiePlex) accelerates workflow standardization.Multiplex IF is maturing quickly, just as IHC once did—on its way to becoming a cornerstone of precision pathology.Resources Mentioned🔹 Biocare Medical (Booth 717) — ONCORE Pro X™ open slide stainer automating mIF, IHC, FISH, and ISH protocols. 🌐 biocare.net🔹 Hamamatsu Photonics (Booth 415) — MoxiePlex™ multispectral imaging platform for high-plex spatial analysis. 🌐 hamamatsu.com🔹 Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) — 40th Anniversary Meeting information and programs. 🌐 sitcancer.orgTimestamp Highlights00:00 — Welcome from SITCSupport the showGet the "Digital Pathology 101" FREE E-book and join us!

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