Quantitative assessment of H&E staining for pathology: development and clinical evaluation of a novel system.

"Declarations Ethical approvalAll methods were carried out in compliance with relevant guidelines and regulations, and were under appropriate approval including NHS research ethics committee (Leeds West LREC reference 05/01205/270). The study did not involve any subjects. Samples of human tissue were used as control material in part of the work. Informed consent was not obtained for this, as these were surplus tissue samples remaining after diagnosis, they were fully anonymised, and their use without specific consent was approved by a research ethics committee. Competing interestsAuthors D.T., D.B. and C.D. are inventors on patents filed by the University of Leeds and Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust on the methodology in this paper. FFEI Ltd and Futamura Chemical UK Ltd are partners on the National Pathology Imaging Co-operative program, and are providing in-kind contributions to the research activities in NPIC. Authors M.C. and E.K. are employees of Futamura Chemical UK Ltd, and are inventors on a patent filed by Futamura Chemical UK Ltd on the composition of the biopolymer film. Author C.R. is an employee of FFEI Ltd. Competing interests Authors D.T., D.B. and C.D. are inventors on patents filed by the University of Leeds and Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust on the methodology in this paper. FFEI Ltd and Futamura Chemical UK Ltd are partners on the National Pathology Imaging Co-operative program, and are providing in-kind contributions to the research activities in NPIC. Authors M.C. and E.K. are employees of Futamura Chemical UK Ltd, and are inventors on a patent filed by Futamura Chemical UK Ltd on the composition of the biopolymer film. Author C.R. is an employee of FFEI Ltd."

"Funding This research is part of the National Pathology Imaging Co-operative, NPIC (Project no. 104687) supported by a £50 m investment from the Data to Early Diagnosis and Precision Medicine challenge, managed and delivered by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)."