Leukemias are malignancies originating from hematopoietic or lymphoid precursors caused by genetic lesions leading to biochemical, proteomic and metabolomics abnormalities. Current leukemia diagnostics is based on genetic and phenotypic characterization of these changes. Due to complexity of methodologies used, the diagnostic process is often arbitrary and suffers of poor specificity (difficulties in classifying sub-types) which makes it difficult to establish the best therapeutic approach for the patients.
The RApID project (RAman Imaging for Diagnostics) aims to develop a cutting-edge Stimulated Raman Scattering (SRS) microscopic-microfluidic system for non-invasive imaging of live cells and apply it to rapid leukemia cell imaging, diagnostics and sorting. By integrating the multidisciplinary expertise from a broad range of fields (medicine, biology, (bio)chemistry, physics, engineering), consortium partners will characterize Raman spectra of leukemic cells and link them to clinico-biological features of the disease. These data will be thereafter used to design and construct a completely original, microfluidic diagnostic device utilizing SRS microscopy for label-free, rapid leukemia cell imaging, diagnostics and sorting. The device to be developed will be the first diagnostic tool exploiting this technology providing quantitative data and assisting clinicians in cost-effective early diagnostics and follow up of leukemia patients.
