M42’s National Reference Laboratory deploys AI-powered prostate cancer diagnostics with Qritive

M42’s National Reference Laboratory (NRL) has integrated an AI Prostate module developed by Qritive, a Singapore-headquartered digital pathology company, into its diagnostic workflow at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, introducing AI-powered prostate cancer diagnostics in the UAE.

The module digitally analyses tissue samples and provides structured insights intended to support pathologists in detecting malignant glands, identifying tumour architecture and grading cancer according to International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) criteria. It can also assist in characterising Gleason patterns, quantifying tumour burden and flagging suspicious regions on digital pathology slides. Final clinical decisions remain with pathologists.

The companies frame the deployment against rising diagnostic demand and pathology workforce pressures. Prostate cancer is among the most commonly diagnosed cancers in men, with an estimated 50,000 new cases a year across the Middle East, and grading delays of several weeks are common in many healthcare systems given how time-intensive biopsy review can be.

Dr Laila Abdel Wareth, CEO of Diagnostics at M42, said AI is intended to support pathologists rather than replace them, citing grading accuracy in prostate cancer as a direct influence on treatment pathways.

Dr Shweta Narang, Executive Director of Medical and Commercial Operations at NRL, said the deployment is intended to help the organisation manage rising diagnostic demand while giving patients and clinicians earlier clarity.

Bruno Occhipinti, chief executive of Qritive, said the collaboration reflects a shared view that AI can help expand pathologist capacity as disease burden grows.

NRL said the deployment forms part of a wider strategy to build out its oncology and digital pathology capabilities, and linked the initiative to UAE Vision 2031 and the Abu Dhabi Health Data Strategy.