Shots:
- ClearStain debuted at SITC 2025 as a workflow-changing innovation, delivering high-quality virtual H&E images from unstained slides to improve tumor identification, reduce sequencing failures, preserve tissue, and accelerate molecular and precision oncology workflows
- By enabling direct visualization and annotation of the exact tissue destined for sequencing, ClearStain helps pathologists and molecular labs maximize tumor purity, minimize impurities, and make more confident, data-driven decisions
- PharmaShots welcomes Megan Rothney for an engaging dialogue exchange on how ClearStain and virtual staining technologies are set to redefine histology–molecular workflows, advance precision oncology, and shape the future of diagnostics.
Saurabh: Pictor Labs delivered a compelling presence at SITC 2025! To begin, could you share a high-level overview of your participation at the conference and the primary innovations you showcased this year?
Megan: It was great to have a presence at SITC 2025. Through our booth presence we were able to meet with a diverse audience of researchers and clinicians and showcase Pictor’s full product line. We also had the opportunity to engage with speakers and poster presenters to share in the exciting developments in immunotherapy, particularly in novel biomarkers that can be assessed with Pictor’s virtual staining technology. SITC also gave us a platform to highlight our newest product line, ClearStain, which is designed to optimize molecular workflows by enabling users to benefit from important biological insights into tissue destined for sequencing by rapidly producing virtual H&E from brightfield images of unstained slides.
Saurabh: SITC marked the official debut of ClearStain. For those encountering the technology for the first time, how would you explain its core capabilities and the transformative shift it brings to molecular sequencing workflows?
Megan: Today in the molecular workflow, a tissue slide is stained with H&E, which is used as a guide to the location of tumor and impurities on all the slides being used for molecular analysis. This is a best guess but it often leads to insufficient tumor being identified, which causes sequencing failures and, more importantly, delays in getting results to patients.
ClearStain transforms this workflow by providing a virtual H&E image of each slide. This allows molecular labs to maximize the amount of tumor and minimize the amount of impurities in the sample. We believe this will lead to fewer sequencing failures, higher quality results, and give patients and physicians the results they need faster.
Saurabh: Challenges such as tissue preservation, tumor purity, and sequencing failure rates continue to hinder progress in oncology and immunotherapy research. In what ways does ClearStain directly address and mitigate these critical issues?
Megan: ClearStain helps with key issues in sequencing by providing labs better information about the location of tumor that should be included in sequencing and regions of inflammation or necrosis, which cause impurities. By directly visualizing and annotating each slide using a ClearStain virtual H&E result on each slide the lab intends to sequence, they can optimize utilization of tissue, reduce failure rates, and reduce the impacts of impurities on sequencing results.
Saurabh: A distinguishing advantage of ClearStain is its ability to visualize and annotate the exact tissue destined for sequencing, without adjacent slides or chemical staining. How does this redefine the pathologist’s workflow and overall decision-making?
Megan: ClearStain makes the pathologist’s job even more impactful in the sequencing workflow. Now, the pathologist can only look at one image to annotate where the tumor sample is. With Clearstain, pathologists can now define all of the tissue to be used, and excluded from sequencing.
Saurabh: During SITC, ClearStain received significant attention from pathologists, molecular labs, and biopharma professionals. What were some of the most noteworthy reactions or insights shared by experts who engaged with your team?
Megan: The reaction to ClearStain was amazing. When we first describe the product, people often don’t believe that we can generate such a high quality H&E image from a brightfield image of an unstained image. Once they our supporting data, they immediately get excited about how they can use the technology in their workflows. They get excited about the speed with which they could see virtual H&Es on each slide, the ability to more accurately annotate their cases, and the potential of saving tissue.
Saurabh: ClearStain is positioned to play a pivotal role at the intersection of histology and molecular analysis. How do you foresee its adoption advancing precision oncology and reshaping diagnostic pathways in the years ahead?
Megan: Precision medicine places a high demand on tissue that is always limited in quantity. The more information we can give pathologists from unstained tissue, the more choices they have in how to manage that tissue and help each patient get the highest quality information they can as they seek to identify the best possible treatment for their disease. ClearStain has the ability to help triage histology and molecular analysis by showing pathologists very quickly the morphology of the tissue. I can easily imagine a future where ClearStain becomes the first step in a histology workflow to help manage tissue utilization and really define what histology and molecular analysis is most beneficial for each patient.
Saurabh: Pictor Labs emphasized collaboration opportunities during the conference. What types of strategic partnerships are you currently pursuing within biopharma, molecular pathology, or clinical diagnostics to accelerate adoption of ClearStain?
Megan: We are currently pursuing partnerships with any company that is doing significant molecular analysis. We want to demonstrate that ClearStain is valuable whether it is used to optimize biopharma research, support new and on market molecular diagnostics or transform the workflow of high volume molecular labs. We are excited to have all types of users of ClearStain – the imagination of our users helps energize us to keep developing and launching new virtual staining products, like ClearStain.
Saurabh: For organizations interested in exploring ClearStain or initiating discussions, what is the best way for them to connect with your leadership or product team for further engagement?
Megan: Organizations interested in learning more about ClearStain can request a demo directly through our website, which also provides an opportunity to explore our broader virtual staining portfolio. For more direct engagement, they can also reach out to our sales team at sales@pictorlabs.ai and we’ll route the conversation to the appropriate product or leadership team as needed.
About the Author:
Megan Rothney
Vice President of Product, PictorLabs
Megan Rothney specializes in diagnostics and precision medicine, with a strong focus on building actionable growth strategies for both emerging and established products. She brings deep technical, clinical, and market expertise, enabling seamless collaboration across development, clinical, and commercial teams. Megan is passionate about translating innovative technologies into practical, real-world clinical impact.
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