The partners of the SCRATCH Project met in Turin, Italy, for a key coordination meeting to align on progress, refine shared goals, and outline next steps in this ambitious research initiative.
Funded under the Eurostars 3 program, managed by the international Eureka network, SCRATCH is a pioneering effort to bring advanced scientific discoveries into real-world application, aiming to improve cancer diagnostics and patient care. The meeting marked an important opportunity for the consortium—ADDAX, IEO Istituto Europeo di Oncologia, and LaCAR MDX Technologies—to synchronize efforts and ensure continued momentum in this cutting-edge R&D project.
The SCRATCH Project is developing a novel single-cell RNA sequencing approach based on Split-Pool Ligation-based Transcriptome-Seq (SPLiT-seq) to deeply characterize tumors, especially focusing on lung cancer. This approach bypasses cell isolation while preserving RNA integrity and enhancing resolution of cell populations within the tumor microenvironment.
A core innovation lies in the integration of a new GAF®-based fixation protocol, which ensures excellent RNA preservation and cell recovery without carcinogenic risks to lab personnel. This makes it a uniquely safe and effective tool for clinical and laboratory settings.
During the meeting in Turin, the partners discussed critical milestones achieved, including protocol optimization, technology integration, and validation planning. The discussion also focused on the upcoming analytical and technical validations, leading toward a prototype test and future clinical feasibility studies.
These alignment moments are essential to maintain cohesion, strengthen collaboration, and guarantee that the scientific vision of the SCRATCH Project remains focused on delivering meaningful, translational outcomes for cancer research.
ADDAX is proud to contribute to this international effort, reaffirming our commitment to innovation and impactful science.