GUT-SCAN · GUT-commensal Strain for Cancer Assessment and Notification

Colorectal cancer is one of the deadliest cancers in the European Union, claiming over 158,956 lives in 2022 alone. Despite its slow progression—typically over 10-15 years—early detection remains a major challenge. Current screening programs primarily rely on Fecal Immunochemical Tests, which detect hidden blood in stool. However, these tests often fail to identify non-bleeding cancers and can yield false positives due to benign lesions like polyps. Here, I hypothesize that engineering a living bacterial platform can enable on-site detection of colorectal cancer-specific biomarkers within the gastrointestinal tract. To achieve this, the system should ideally: i) utilize adequate bacterial models capable of persisting in the gastrointestinal tract, and ii) develop a robust platform for detecting biomarkers. In this project, I will use my expertise in bacterial engineering focused on clinical applications to transform a safe, abundant and genetically tractable gut-commensal into a microbial-based diagnostic tool. This platform will offer a low-cost, scalable solution for mass screening campaigns—not only for colorectal cancer. This innovation, therefore, has broad translational potential and will pave the way to a new frontier in microbial-based diagnostic tools and bacterial-based therapies.