Charles River Laboratories Introduces AI-Powered, End-to-End Workflow

Charles River Laboratories International, a major provider of research services to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, has expanded its digital pathology platform with an artificial intelligence–powered, end-to-end workflow designed to significantly shorten nonclinical study timelines.

The new system integrates digital tools across the full histology and pathology process, from slide preparation to final pathology review, with the goal of cutting at least one week from standard timelines while maintaining regulatory and Good Laboratory Practice standards.

The company said the technology is already in use in parts of its global research network, with additional capabilities scheduled for rollout through 2026 and early 2027.

At the center of the update is the automation of slide quality control, a traditionally labor-intensive step in toxicologic and nonclinical pathology. Under conventional methods, trained technicians manually inspect each slide for defects before it reaches a pathologist, a process the company said can delay studies by days. Charles River claims its AI system performs this task automatically, flagging scanning errors and tissue artifacts before human review is required.

The AI tools were developed in partnership with Deciphex, a digital pathology company, and are being introduced in phases. Automated scanning quality control is already live, while additional modules for detecting histology artifacts are expected later this year. A further system, designed to confirm the presence of required organ structures, is planned for 2027.

Danielle Brown, Charles River’s digital products leader, said the initiative goes beyond digitizing microscope slides, aiming instead to restructure how pathology work is performed. By applying artificial intelligence at what she described as “critical bottlenecks,” she said, the company could improve efficiency and scalability across studies.

Charles River also said the platform supports broader industry goals, including reducing animal use in nonclinical research where scientifically appropriate. By accelerating review and eliminating redundant manual steps, officials said studies could be completed with fewer delays and fewer repeat procedures.

The rollout underscores a broader push within the life sciences sector to apply artificial intelligence to research and development, particularly in areas where timelines and costs are under pressure as drug developers seek to bring new therapies to market more quickly.