CCassured is working to make disease detection simpler and more widely available. Their goal is to bring reliable diagnostic tests to the point of care—like rural clinics, veterinary offices, and local doctors—by creating easy-to-use tools that can detect disease markers with over 95% accuracy. One of their main focuses is colorectal cancer.
As part of ONCOSCREEN, CCassured has identified many specific biological markers linked to the colorectal cancer (CRC). In the first two years of the project, they also developed test kits to detect these markers. Since April, these tools have been undergoing validation and further testing in a large clinical trial.
Throughout this process, CCassured spoke directly with patients and healthcare providers to better understand their experiences with existing screening tests. This feedback was vital in shaping the new tests and how they’ll be used. One concern that came out of these meetings was whether the new tools could not only detect cancer early, but also tell the difference between harmless growths (polyps) and actual colorectal cancer. Where and how the test is used—whether as a replacement for FIT, an add-on, or even an alternative to colonoscopies—depends on how well it answers this question.
Patients were also asked whether they would prefer giving a blood or stool sample. Interestingly, most said speed and convenience mattered more than how invasive the test felt. One patient described waiting two years for a colonoscopy after a positive test result—despite developing symptoms in the meantime. This delay highlights why faster, more accessible tests are urgently needed, especially ones that could be done by trained assistants instead of specialists.
Many patients also reported accidentally throwing away or misuse stool sample kits, often because they’re confusing or uncomfortable to use. This shows how important it is to make these tests not only accurate, but simple and user-friendly.
By listening to users and building around their needs, CCassured hopes to create a better way to screen for colorectal cancer—one that’s faster, easier, and more patient-friendly