Priti Lal

Priti Lal, MD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine. She serves as the Director of GU Pathology and is an Associate Scholar at the Center for Global Health. Her work bridges advanced pathology, AI-driven diagnostics, and global oncology, with a strong focus on improving cancer outcomes for men of African descent.

Her research interests lie at the intersection of global oncology, medical education, and digital pathology. She specializes in bladder, kidney, and prostate cancers, applying cutting-edge computational image analysis to develop nondestructive, AI-based prognostic tools such as Histotyping and AAstro. These innovations aim to address disparities in prostate cancer outcomes by creating population-specific models for African American and African men.

The recent publications highlight a strong trend in leveraging AI and genomics to uncover biologically distinct cancer pathways and improve risk stratification. Her work emphasizes stromal morphology and gland structure in prognostication, moving beyond traditional clinical parameters to enhance accuracy.

Scientific recognition includes:

• Co-inventor of US Patent US20210035694A1 for an AI-derived stromal signature in prostate cancer

Dr. Lal is deeply involved in global health mentorship, particularly through the MADCAP consortium—a collaborative network involving Harvard, Moffit, Penn, and ten African countries. She mentors students and trainees from Africa, promoting capacity building in molecular diagnostics and pathology education. While specific grant details are not listed, her leadership in international research initiatives suggests active grant-supported work.

She leads pathology innovation at Penn and is a key figure in the MADCAP consortium, driving collaborative research and education across continents. Her lab focuses on translating AI-based image analysis into clinical tools for equitable cancer care.