BIDMC Machine Learning Center for Pathology
As part of the Dana-Farber Beth Israel Deaconess Cancer Collaboration, BIDMC, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI), and Harvard Medical Faculty Physicians (HMFP) are partnering to build New England’s first and only dedicated, freestanding inpatient hospital for adult cancer patients. Together, we are harnessing next-generation diagnostics and technology to deliver extraordinary, personalized care—and redefine cancer care for the next century.
With cancer diagnoses rising, particularly among younger adults, and an estimated 40% of people expected to face a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime, the need for advanced precision diagnostics has never been greater.
Why Pathology Is Central to the Future of Cancer Care
BIDMC/HMFP Pathology is critical to the success of this new model of care, and pathologists at BIDMC/HMFP play an essential role in guiding the right treatment at the right time for every patient. The department currently performs more than six million tests each year—volume that is expected to grow 200–300% over the next five years as clinical needs, faculty, space, and technology expand.
To meet this challenge, we are establishing the Machine Learning Center for Pathology—a secure, pathologist-led research environment designed to drive responsible innovation in anatomic pathology using artificial intelligence (AI).
About the Center
The Machine Learning Center will provide:
- Secure, scalable computing resources
- Curated digital pathology datasets
- Modern AI research and development tools
- A collaborative environment connecting pathology subspecialties, informatics, and computational scientists
Importantly, the Center will maintain a strict separation from clinical production systems, ensuring that innovation thrives without compromising mission‑critical systems that support patient care.
Our Aims
By enabling responsible, reproducible, and clinically meaningful AI research, the Center will:
- Advance precision and preventive pathology
- Empower pathologists to lead AI innovation
- Accelerate discovery in disease characterization and risk prediction
- Establish a clear, governed pathway from research concepts to deployable clinical tools
- Ensure HIPAA‑compliant, IRB‑governed workflows through automated data orchestration and honest‑broker processes
- Strengthen collaboration across BIDMC, the Beth Israel Lahey Health system, and external clinical partners
What the Center Will Contribute
AI‑driven pathology innovations. Algorithms for feature detection, tumor classification, biomarker and spatial analysis, and predictive modeling.
High-quality research assets. Publishable methods, curated deidentified whole‑slide datasets with metadata, and grant‑ready pilot data.
End‑to‑end translational pipelines. Tools for rapid prototyping, scalable model development and validation, and clear pathways for clinical translation.
Reproducible, versioned data resources. IRB‑approved, longitudinal datasets designed for consistent reanalysis and multi‑study comparison.
Education & collaboration infrastructure. Training for faculty and trainees, plus shared frameworks to support multidisciplinary projects across pathology, informatics, and data science.
Support Us
The BIDMC and HMFP Machine Learning Center for Pathology will help ensure that precision diagnostics keep pace with scientific discovery—so every patient receives the right treatment at the right time, guided by responsibly interpreted and safely translated data.
For more information, including naming and recognition opportunities, please contact:
Myriah Kulin
[email protected]
978‑807‑3313
