Leadership in science today involves not only advancing scientific knowledge and technology but also promoting diversity, inclusivity, and ethical conduct. Scientific leaders are expected to foster collaboration and teamwork among diverse groups of researchers, promote scientific literacy and education, and communicate effectively with the public about the importance and impact of scientific research.
Dr. Rupert Ecker, the CEO, co-founder, and co-owner of TissueGnostics, has been intrigued by science and motivated to push beyond existing boundaries. His aspiration of achieving scientific breakthroughs has been fulfilled by creating pioneering technology that has enabled researchers to broaden their understanding of cells, tissues and organs. Furthermore, his innovative analytical techniques have facilitated the understanding of the molecular foundation of cancer and other ailments as well as contributed to the development of novel therapeutic regimen in precision medicine. Dr. Ecker, along with his former mentor and business associate Georg Steiner, established TissueGnostics in 2003.
Dr. Rupert, in his role as CEO of TissueGnostics GLOBAL, is responsible for overseeing the company’s strategic direction, R&D, quality policies, and collaboration with academic institutions. His primary passion lies in actualizing creative ideas and translating theory into practical applications.
TissueGnostics (TG) is a company that specializes in providing advanced solutions for the analysis of tissue samples using artificial intelligence-empowered precision microscopy with integrated image cytometry software. Their solutions are used by scientists across the biomedical research continuum, including pathologists, who require a deep understanding of tissue structures at a cellular level. Pathology is a field that involves recognizing relevant structures and extracting diagnostic and prognostic information from tissue samples that may have been stained with by various techniques, like H&E, IHC, immunofluorescence, multi-spectral and/or multiplexing assays.
TissueGnostics’ solutions are computer-based and provide automated microscopy and tissue image cytometry, which require high precision and performance. The company is committed to remaining at the forefront of this field and aims to provide its solutions to every researcher and clinician working with tissue sections and/or cell cultures in 2D, 3D, or 4D.
While microscopy consists of a manifold of techniques and technologies and thus requires a profound knowledge of those in order to obtain feasible results, TissueGnostics also acts as a translator by providing high-level solutions to users who are not experts in the field of microscopy and/or image analysis. This is done through their technology platform of tissue cytometers.
Journey of Founding TG GLOBAL
Originally aspiring to become an astronomer, Dr. Ecker eventually turned his attention to the microcosmos and pursued a degree in cell biology. He is a co-inventor of the TissueFAXS technology and played a pivotal role in the establishment of TG and its international offices and subsidiaries, serving as CEO and CSO of TG GLOBAL. During his post-doctoral research position at the Kplus Competence Centre for BioMolecular Therapeutics, which was a joint venture between University of Vienna and the Novartis Research Centre, he co-founded the company.
As a student, Dr. Ecker’s goal was to contribute to scientific progress, and he found his personal way of achieving this goal through TG. Over the past 20 years, the company has not only built a strong product portfolio but also made a significant scientific impact, with over 2,500 scientific studies published in approximately 800 peer-reviewed journals that utilized TG’s technology in various ways. The scientific applications of TG’s technology range from basic research to clinical implementation studies, from bone marrow to brain, from cell cultures to solid tissue sections, covering the entire spectrum of biomedical research from A (like Atopic dermatitis) to Z (like Zika virus infection). Dr. Ecker is proud to have played a part in this success story.
Collaboration and Multidisciplinary Expertise
TissueGnostics was established by researchers out of a need for automation and quantification of microscopic images. Throughout its history of 20 years, collaborative research has been integral to the company’s success. TissueGnostics has participated in more than 20 Austrian national collaborative research projects and has been an industry partner to seven major EU-funded Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Networks (ITN) as well as other EU programs such as COST Actions, Framework 6/7, HORIZON 2020, and HORIZON EUROPE programs.
Dr. Ecker’s success in starting and expanding TissueGnostics is attributed to his multidisciplinary expertise in biology, software engineering, business, leadership, scientific presentations, and social competence. As an emerging leader, it is essential to have a broad range of knowledge and skills, but it is also important to recognize one’s limitations and build a complimentary team.
Advancing Science Literacy, Developing User-Friendly Instruments, and Championing Precision Medicine
Dr. Ecker has identified three areas that he would like to improve in society, MedTech, or people’s lives. Firstly, he would like to improve the general public’s understanding of science and artificial intelligence, both in terms of what they can do and what they cannot do. Dr. Ecker believes that a better understanding of these subjects could lead to more informed decisions and better outcomes for everyone.
Dr. Ecker is also interested in developing instruments for research and diagnostics that are powerful yet easy to use. He believes that such instruments would lower the barriers to successful research and diagnosis and could lead to new discoveries and improved patient outcomes. Finally, Dr. Ecker is passionate about precision medicine, which seeks to provide targeted therapies for each individual patient, rather than for “averaged patient cohorts.” He believes that precision medicine has the potential to revolutionize healthcare and improve patient outcomes, and he is committed to advancing this field through his work at TissueGnostics.
Team Building through ‘Holistic Complementarity’
Dr. Ecker believes that it is crucial for a company’s success to have a team with the right set of skills and personalities. It is not enough to have technically qualified employees; they must also be able to work well with others and contribute to a positive team spirit. Therefore, when hiring new team members, Dr. Ecker looks for a person’s “holistic complementarity” – a combination of professional skills and personal as well as social qualifications. This approach may not be practical for larger companies, but it is a luxury and a beauty one can enjoy as CEO of a small to medium-sized company. In such companies, it is possible to build a close-knit team that works well together and is passionate about the company’s mission. This, in turn, can lead to a more productive and successful company.
Technology Milestones on Tissue Image Cytometry
Dr. Ecker would attribute the most significant changes in his career over the past three decades to milestones in computer technology development. When he started out, the focus in biomedical research was on simply making novel research approaches possible using technology. Later, there was a shift towards doing things with the help of computers. Ten years ago, there was an emphasis on automating research tasks, and now the expectation seems to be on utilizing artificial intelligence throughout any research roadmap to the point of generation of actual knowledge.
From Academia to Entrepreneurship
Dr. Ecker’s personal biggest risk was leaving academia and venturing into entrepreneurship by founding TissueGnostics. It was like taking a leap of faith into unknown waters to test not only the temperature of the water but also his ability to swim. However, his company has become a leading provider of tissue image cytometry, offering automated analysis of tissue samples using computer assistance and AI-driven technology for medical research and histopathology. TissueGnostics serves as a one-stop-shop for their customers’ needs in this field.
Future Plans in the Biomedical Research Industry
Starting as a small company in Vienna, Austria, TissueGnostics has now grown into a global structure with subsidiaries and offices located in Europe, USA, Asia, China, South America, Africa, and Australia. However, despite being present on all continents, the company is not yet represented in all countries with significant biomedical research activities. With the 20th anniversary in 2023 – and beyond – TissueGnostics plans to introduce innovative products, expand its market presence, and extend its global service into more territories.
One of the major challenges faced by the company is the rapid pace of both, technological development and market needs, which are continuously evolving. Unlike some of its competitors, especially in the US, TissueGnostics has had limited funding opportunities during its start-up and initial growth phases and has had to achieve its goals through cash flow rather than multi-million-dollar investments. In Dr. Ecker’s opinion, TissueGnostics is like a small but highly agile mammal in a wilderness full of ravenous dinosaurs. The fact that TissueGnostics celebrates its 20th Anniversary in 2023 and that it has expanded from a Vienna-based start-up to a global entity over the past two decades, proves that it requires more than huge investments to run and grow a company – inspiration and dedication. This is what drives the entire team at TG and empowers the company’s global footprint in accordance with the corporate motto: TissueGnostics – Precision that Inspires.
Written by Steve Sanchez.
