09/18/2026
A new study published in JMIR Medical Education found no significant difference in learning outcomes between students attending anatomy courses online versus face-to-face when using a 3D virtual slide system.
Researchers Katharina Sternecker, Christoph Schmitz, and Markus Berndt at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU Munich) conducted a cross-over study with 415 medical students, comparing microscopic anatomy instruction delivered in person versus synchronously online.
Students used Histologi@, a virtual 3D slide box powered by the Biolucida Viewer, to study fully scanned histological glass slides previously used in a traditional course - whether they were in the lab or logging in remotely.
The result: learning outcomes were comparable across both formats. Students could zoom, change focus planes, and study histological detail in 3D, no matter where they were.
For institutions balancing growing student populations, distributed campuses, and demand for flexible learning, this research suggests that well-designed virtual microscopy can expand access without compromising educational quality.
Great to see this type of work being published in a top-ranked education journal.
Read the full study here: https://mededu.jmir.org/2026/1/e82012