InDepth Focus Joins Lab+ to Advance Next-Generation Microscopy

InDepth Focus has been selected for the second cohort of Lab+ Company Builder, a

program led by Institut Pasteur de Montevideo that supports the development of

science-based startups. Chosen from 32 applications in an international call, InDepth Focus

is one of three companies in the cohort, each receiving USD 750,000 to help turn scientific

innovation into market-ready products.

For InDepth Focus, this milestone will support the development of DIVER-Omega, a new

generation of deep-tissue imaging technology designed to bring advanced microscopy

beyond specialized research laboratories and closer to clinical use.

From scientific discovery to practical tools

InDepth Focus brings together researchers and engineers to transform advanced bioimaging

research into accessible, practical tools for diagnosis, scientific discovery, and the

development of new therapies.

The company is a joint venture between the Advanced Bioimaging Unit, a research

platform associated with Institut Pasteur de Montevideo and Universidad de la

República at Hospital de Clínicas, and Focus, a Uruguayan product engineering

company.

Its mission is to make advanced microscopy easier to use, more accessible, and more

scalable, so that its capabilities can reach hospitals, clinics, and research centers around the

world.

Why it matters

During cancer surgery, surgeons need to determine whether all the tumor tissue has been

removed. Conventional pathology typically involves preparing tissue samples for

examination under an optical microscope, a time-consuming process that provides

information only about the sampled tissue. If cancer cells remain at the border of the

removed tissue, a second surgery may be necessary.

Advanced imaging techniques could help clinicians assess tissue more quickly, potentially

providing valuable information while a procedure is still underway.

This is the motivation behind DIVER-Omega: using the natural signals emitted by living

tissue to reveal information about its structure and metabolism, without relying on tissue

fixation or exogenous markers.

From DIVER to DIVER-Omega

DIVER is a deep-tissue multiphoton microscope originally developed at the University of

California, Irvine. Working with the technology's inventors, Leonel Malacrida (PI at IPMont

and Udelar) helped bring it to Uruguay, where a working microscope was assembled at

Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, the first outside the United States.

DIVER enables researchers to observe living tissue at depths and levels of detail that

conventional microscopy struggles to reach. However, the system remains a specialized

research instrument, requiring complex equipment integration and expert operation.

DIVER-Omega builds on this scientific foundation with a clear goal: to translate advanced

imaging capabilities into a more compact, intelligent, and user-friendly product.

The development focuses on three key areas:

• A more compact system: Redesigning the instrument to be more portable and

  better suited for use closer to the patient.

• Intelligent imaging and analysis: Integrating AI-assisted image analysis and

  automated adjustments to simplify operation and help users interpret complex tissue

  information.

• Medical-grade engineering: Developing the hardware, firmware, and software with

  the reliability and quality processes needed to support the transition toward clinical

  applications.

Building what comes next

The Lab+ Company Builder program provides an opportunity to advance this work,

combining scientific expertise with the funding and product-development support needed to

move toward clinical applications.

With this support, InDepth Focus will continue developing DIVER-Omega, working to bridge

the gap between advanced microscopy research and practical tools that can make a

difference in healthcare.

To learn more about InDepth Focus and the development of DIVER-Omega, visit our

website.