Fraunhofer Research Institution for Individualized and Cell-Based Medical EngineeringAI-based high-throughput analysis for preclinical research
About
ASAP is a start-up project funded by Fraunhofer AHEAD that develops AI-based software for the automated evaluation of histological sections in preclinical research. The solution reduces analysis times from months to minutes – while maintaining expert-level accuracy. Initially focused on cardiovascular applications such as atherosclerosis, the system will be expanded to other disease areas such as Alzheimer's and inflammatory bowel disease in the future.
Opportunity
The evaluation of histological samples is a central but time-consuming and resource-intensive step in preclinical research. Currently, manual analysis requires significant human resources, is prone to subjective differences, and limits throughput in large studies. At the same time, there is a growing need for reproducible, quantitatively reliable results—especially in drug development and toxicological research. Automated, AI-supported solutions offer the potential to significantly improve speed, quality, and scalability in this area.
Solution/Product description
The ASAP project is developing a scalable AI software platform that automatically segments, classifies, and quantifies histological sections. Intelligent models combine precise segmentation with adaptive post-processing, allowing specific domain knowledge to be incorporated directly into the analysis. The software achieves reproducible results with expert accuracy and dramatically speeds up evaluation. The business model targets research institutes, CROs, and pharmaceutical companies via pay-per-use, annual licenses, and customized project solutions. Funding from Fraunhofer AHEAD enables further development to product maturity, validation in pilot studies, and the establishment of strategic partnerships.
Why Us
ASAP combines deep AI expertise, biomedical expertise, and a clearly scalable business model. For the first time, the software enables reproducible, AI-supported high-throughput analysis of histological data with clinical precision. Through validation studies, brand building, and international collaborations, ASAP is laying the foundation for a sustainable start-up by 2026—with the goal of accelerating preclinical research, reducing costs, and providing crucial support for the development of new therapies.