# NOVA: An Agentic Framework for Automated Histopathology Analysis and Discovery

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2511.11324 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2511.11324/

## Key facts

- Cited by 3 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 14 Nov 2025.

## Built on by (most cited first, 3 of 3)

- [BioResearcher: Scenario-Guided Multi-Agent for Translational Medicine](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2605.05985/) (2026)
- [CodeCytos: AI-assisted spatial molecular imaging analysis via code-augmented agent action space](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2606.00472/) (2026)
- [Evaluating Agentic Harness Systems for Autonomous Computational Pathology](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2607.02598/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Digitized histopathology analysis involves complex, time-intensive workflows and specialized expertise, limiting its accessibility. We introduce NOVA, an agentic framework that translates scientific queries into executable analysis pipelines by iteratively generating and running Python code. NOVA integrates 49 domain-specific tools (e.g., nuclei segmentation, whole-slide encoding) built on open-source software, and can also create new tools ad hoc. To evaluate such systems, we present SlideQuest, a 90-question benchmark -- verified by pathologists and biomedical scientists -- spanning data processing, quantitative analysis, and hypothesis testing. Unlike prior biomedical benchmarks focused on knowledge recall or diagnostic QA, SlideQuest demands multi-step reasoning, iterative coding, and computational problem solving. Quantitative evaluation shows NOVA outperforms coding-agent baselines, and a pathologist-verified case study links morphology to prognostically relevant PAM50 subtypes, demonstrating its scalable discovery potential.