News
PERSIST-SEQ Extended to 2027 to Strengthen Research on Cancer Therapy Resistance
The PERSIST-SEQ project will be extended by 18 months, with a new end date of 31 December 2027. This no-cost extension, granted by the project funder IHI JU , ensures that the consortium can fully deliver on its scientific objectives and maximise the impact of its research into cancer therapy resistance.
Why the extension is needed
Since its start, PERSIST-SEQ has made significant progress in building a comprehensive single-cell sequencing framework to study drug tolerance in cancer. However, the project faced an initial delay due to the development and optimisation of new sequencing technologies, particularly the 10X Genomics Flex (GEM-X) platform.
While this innovation greatly expanded the types of samples that can be analysed, including fixed and complex clinical samples, it also required additional time to establish robust protocols (SOPs). As a result, early project activities started later than planned, impacting the overall timeline.
At the same time, the project’s ambition remains high: to sequence 5 million single cells across diverse cancer models. Reaching this target and fully analysing the resulting data, requires additional time.
Prof. Alexander van Oudenaarden,PERSIST-SEQ Academic LeadThis extension allows us to fully realise the scientific ambition of PERSIST-SEQ. By generating and analysing large-scale single-cell datasets across multiple cancer models, we can deepen our understanding of how drug resistance emerges. The additional time ensures that we not only collect the data but also translate it into meaningful biological insights that can ultimately benefit patients.”
What the extension entails
With over 2.2 million single cells already sequenced and new technologies and collaborations underway, PERSIST-SEQ enters its next phase with strong momentum. The 18-month extension allows the consortium to:
- Complete large-scale sequencing efforts, reaching the target of 5 million single cells
- Perform in-depth data analysis, essential to uncover mechanisms of drug resistance
- Expand research into new areas, including:
- Spatial transcriptomics, enabling analysis of tumour microenvironments
- Breast cancer models, complementing existing lung and colorectal studies
- Childhood cancers, through collaboration with the ITCC-P4 initiative
For researchers across the consortium, this means continued collaboration, extended experimental work, and the opportunity to fully translate data into biological insights and potential therapeutic strategies.
What this means for the project’s impact
The extension significantly strengthens PERSIST-SEQ’s ability to deliver meaningful outcomes.
With more time, the consortium can:
- Generate larger, more robust datasets, increasing statistical power
- Improve data integration across models and technologies
- Fully exploit emerging technologies such as spatial transcriptomics
- Validate findings across multiple cancer types and experimental systems
With the extension, PERSIST-SEQ is now positioned to deliver a more complete and impactful understanding of drug resistance biology, ultimately supporting the development of more effective cancer treatments.
Dr. Ultan McDermott, PERSIST-SEQ Industrial LeadThe extension is critical to maximising the impact of PERSIST-SEQ. It enables us to further integrate advanced technologies such as spatial transcriptomics and expand into additional cancer types, including breast and paediatric cancers. This will strengthen the robustness of our findings and help accelerate the identification of new therapeutic strategies to address resistance in cancer.
Acknowledging the support of the project’s funder
The consortium would like to formally thank the Innovative Health Initiative (IHI) for enabling this extension. By supporting this extension, IHI JU ensures that the knowledge, data, and tools generated by PERSIST-SEQ can achieve their full potential in advancing cancer research and improving patient outcomes.