The DigiPatICS project consolidates the use of AI to improve cancer diagnosis and share results
Nov 20, 2025
The eight hospitals of the Catalan Health Institute (ICS) have optimized the diagnosis of breast cancer thanks to artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms created by the UPC, within the framework of the DigiPatICS project, which automate the analysis of tissue samples. The project has received the 15th Research Valorization Award, organized by the Social Council with the support of Fractus and the Fractus-UPC Deep Tech Hub, presented last November 19.
Until a few years ago, pathologists analyzed tissue samples manually through microscopes, a process that allowed for the analysis of a small number of reactive cells in the so-called immunohistochemical stains. Now, the samples are digitized and automatically analyze through the algorithms created by the UPC’s Image Processing Group.
Thus, in addition to being able to analyze larger tissue samples, the process is streamlined, the results are more precise, and they can be shared among the ICS hospitals so that doctors can review them jointly. This, together with the fact that they can devote more time to diagnosis, makes it possible to refine both diagnoses and treatments. Just one year after the algorithms
were implemented, in 2024, 13,885 images had already been analyzed, helping in the treatment of more than 4,400 patients.
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