How molecular pathology is powering precision medicine at Unilabs

In May 2025, Unilabs Switzerland welcomed Dr. Ines Raineri-Gerber to its pathology team in Bern. A Foederatio Medicorum Helveticorum (FMH)-certified pathologist and expert in molecular pathology, Dr. Raineri-Gerber’s exceptional expertise is further strengthening Unilabs’ leadership in precision medicine.

Below Dr. Raineri-Gerber discusses how the company is delivering new levels of personalised care across a suite of medical specialities, through the integration of molecular pathology tools and expertise.

Molecular pathology: from the ‘what’ to the ‘why’

In the past years, molecular pathology has transformed the way healthcare providers diagnose and treat diseases, especially cancer. While standard diagnostics focus on imaging, histology, and the measurement of different biomarkers in blood tests, molecular pathology complements these important findings by identifying pathogens, potential drug resistance mechanisms, and the genetic make-up of tumours at the molecular level.

Dr. Raineri-Gerber says, using a powerful set of molecular tools—including next generation sequencing (NGS), Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and in-situ hybridisation (ISH)—Unilabs experts are able to better understand the context and drivers of a disease, unlocking more accurate diagnosis and personalised treatment plans. “By analysing genetic and molecular changes, we can treat illness from a more holistic perspective. In oncology, for example, molecular testing can identify specific cell mutations that guide the use of targeted therapies and immunotherapies, supporting the pursuit of better outcomes for cancer patients.”

Bridging the gap between pathology and genetics

The integration of molecular pathology into clinical practice also opens new avenues for research, innovation, and ultimately, better patient care.

One example of this is the use of multi-gene testing in patients with advanced solid tumours. This enables detection of genomic alterations for which an approved first-line targeted treatment is available. During this testing, experts many detect additional oncogenic (potentially cancer-causing) variants, for which no first-line treatment options exist. Dr. Raineri-Gerber says molecular pathology creates opportunities for patients with these oncogenic variants to be included in clinical trials, assisting in drug development and faster care. “Unilabs molecular pathologists regularly participate in tumour boards with surgeons, radiologists, and oncologists discussing not only histological and cytological diagnoses, but also the possibilities and results of molecular testing. As an example, we recently diagnosed a patient with a rare form of an undifferentiated sinunasal cancer. Molecular pathology assisted in further differentiating the tumour entity and identified a molecular alteration which potentially allows the patient to enter a clinical study.”

Another example is the use of liquid biopsy tests, which offer a non-invasive diagnostic option for detecting and monitoring diseases, such as cancer. These blood tests detect genetic material from tumours, like DNA, RNA, or other biomarkers, that are shed into the bloodstream. In patients with known cancer, liquid biopsy may assist in monitoring treatment and detecting early disease recurrence. In advanced cancer liquid biopsy may reflect the genetic make-up of a tumour better than a tissue biopsy from a single metastasis, thus providing important information on potential resistance mechanisms and targetable drivers.

Diagnostic integration for superior patient care

Dr. Raineri-Gerber says a key part of her role is ensuring an integrated approach to diagnostics. “By integrating molecular pathology with insights from clinical laboratory testing, radiology and pathology, we can make faster and more confident decisions. Unilabs has been practicing molecular pathology for years, the difference now is that we are scaling this capability with a view to it becoming more commonplace across key areas of expertise, such as dermatopathology, urology, gastroenterology and gynaecology. By upskilling our experts and embedding molecular pathology as a key enabler across our specialty services, we can raise the bar for precision medicine and deliver superior care to healthcare providers and patients around the world.”