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Multiplexed results of these proof-of-concept studies demonstrate that
immunohistochemistry cervical cancer screening, malaria and soil-transmitted
parasite diagnostics are technically and diagnostically fea-
Multiplexed immunohistochemistry provides a power- sible. Further field trials are ongoing in Kenya and Tanzania
ful approach in combination with digital image analysis, in collaboration with local clinicians and stakeholders.
allowing robust segmentation of specific subpopulations
of cells and compartments of tissue. Currently, our system Spinout company Aiforia
can detect up to six different protein markers and nuclei in
a single tissue section. Methods for multiplexed analysis of Some of the novel digital microscopy technologies devel-
cell-level protein expression patterns have been utilised in oped at FIMM have been transferred to the spinout com-
joint projects with pharmaceutical companies. pany Aiforia (formerly FIMMIC). The company, founded in
2013, and listed on NASDAQ Helsinki in 2021, commercial-
Point-of-care diagnostics ises information management systems for digital diagnos-
tics. Aiforia is a first-in-class, versatile cloud-based plat-
FIMM researchers are developing applications that enable form that increases the speed, accuracy and consistency
AI supported automated diagnostics at the point-of care. of analysing large and complex medical images across a
The approach is based on digitising the sample with port- variety of fields. The technology, based on deep-learning
able microscopy scanners followed by image transfer and AI, is intuitive and requires only an internet connection
remote diagnosis utilising both AI-analysis and human and the user’s own domain knowledge to begin training
experts. The group has been carrying out field studies AI models. Aiforia assists with the increased demand for
in several low-resource African countries since 2017. The image-based diagnostics by providing efficient and scal-
able solutions – enabling new discoveries, clinical support
FIMM – Building a Bridge from Discovery to Medicine and highly accurate and consistent data.

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