Pathology with a future: How the Pathora Institute is setting new standards
From leading-edge university research to entrepreneurial innovation – an experience shared by Prof. Dr. med. Perner.
Prof. Dr. Sven Perner, owner of Pathora
/ Copyright: Lara Tank/ BioRegio STERN Management GmbHAfter more than two decades in top-level academic medicine – most recently as Director of Pathology at the University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein – Prof. Dr. Perner decided that the beginning of 2025 was the right moment for a new chapter. With the founding of the Pathora Institute for Pathology and Tissue Medicine, he embarked on a new professional path built on independence, innovation, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
From concept to reality – in just a few months
The idea behind Pathora was clear from the start: to provide high-quality pathological diagnostics, foster scientific project collaborations, and build an agile, research-driven laboratory with an international outlook. What began in January 2025 with a five-member team at the Tübingen-Reutlingen Technology Park (TTR) has quickly evolved into a fully equipped laboratory with state-of-the-art infrastructure. Operations began in record time – the first samples were processed as early as February 20.
“Thanks to the flexible laboratory facilities at the TTR and close cooperation with regional and national partners, the setup went remarkably smoothly,” says Perner. “Two new pathology panel seats, announced at the end of 2024, laid the foundation for our outpatient work” – with a clear focus on urological, oral and maxillofacial tissue medicine.
A team for precision and vision
The Pathora team brings together a diverse set of skills: alongside Prof. Dr. Perner as Managing Director, two business economists and two medical-technical assistants work to combine diagnostics and research at the highest level. “We see ourselves not only as a service provider for referring clinics and practices but also as an active partner in research projects – both in academia and industry.”
Where research meets practice
Collaborations with pharmaceutical companies and public funding bodies have long been a hallmark of Prof. Perner’s career – a tradition he intends to continue at Pathora. “Pathora is open to new partnerships – whether in clinical diagnostics, project consortia, or contract research,” Perner explains. “We are particularly eager to connect with colleagues in urology, dentistry, and oncology.”
Thanks to a postal sample submission system, the Institute for Pathology and Tissue Medicine has already extended its reach far beyond the region. “We are currently receiving samples from all over Germany – from North Rhine-Westphalia to Bavaria, from Schleswig-Holstein to Saxony-Anhalt.” Pathora’s medium-term goal is to further expand its international collaborations.
Pathology is more than diagnostics
One of Prof. Dr. Perner’s personal commitments remains the communication of pathological knowledge – whether as a lecturer or through initiatives he has already established, such as medical podcasting and media formats. As he noted in a previous article: “You don’t just become a pathologist – you remain one.”
Further information
Learn more about the institute and get in touch – all details can be found in the Pathora company profile.
BioRegio STERN Management GmbH