Establishing India's Advanced Single-Cell and Spatial Transcriptomics Infrastructure for Precision Medicine
A CSR Initiative by Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC) in partnership with IIT Madras
About the Project
The Single-Cell and Organoid Technology (SCOT) Lab at IIT Madras is a first-of-its-kind translational research facility that enables scientists to study human diseases at unprecedented cellular resolution. Established with the support of Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC), the laboratory integrates single-cell multi-omics, spatial transcriptomics, advanced histology, high-resolution imaging, and cryo-electron microscopy into a unified research platform. By combining patient-derived tissues with stem cell-derived human organoids, the SCOT Lab bridges the gap between laboratory research and clinical practice, accelerating discoveries that can improve disease diagnosis, treatment, and personalized healthcare.
Why It Matters
Many complex diseases—including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, lung disorders, and infectious diseases—cannot be fully understood by studying tissues in bulk. The SCOT Lab enables researchers to examine individual cells within their native tissue environment, revealing how diseases develop, progress, and respond to treatment. This deeper understanding is essential for developing precision diagnostics, targeted therapies, and personalized treatment strategies that improve patient outcomes.
Technology & Research Capabilities
The SCOT Lab brings together three advanced technology platforms within a single integrated facility:
- Single-Cell & Spatial Transcriptomics to decode gene expression and cellular diversity.
- Cryo-Preparation and Volume Electron Microscopy for ultra-high-resolution imaging of tissues and organoids.
- Automated Histology Processing for standardized tissue preparation, imaging, and molecular analysis.
Together, these technologies create a comprehensive bench-to-omics pipeline, enabling researchers to move seamlessly from tissue processing and imaging to cellular and molecular analysis within one laboratory.
Research & Translational Impact
The SCOT Lab supports a wide range of research and clinical applications, including the creation of single-cell atlases for human diseases, organoid-based disease modelling, spatial mapping of tissues, immune response profiling, and pathology-to-omics workflows. These capabilities provide critical insights into diseases such as diabetes, heart failure, infections, liver disease, and cancer, while strengthening translational research and enabling the development of next-generation diagnostics and therapies.
Building National Capacity
Beyond research, the SCOT Lab serves as a national resource for education and healthcare innovation. The facility trains PhD scholars, clinicians, and technologists in cutting-edge omics and imaging technologies, fosters collaborations with hospitals for translational research, and supports internships, workshops, and outreach programmes. By advancing indigenous research capabilities and expanding access to globally relevant technologies, the initiative contributes to Atmanirbhar Bharat, Make in India, and UN Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being.
At a Glance
Established under the Department of Medical Sciences and Technology at IIT Madras, the IRFC SCOT Lab became operational in September 2025 as a state-of-the-art national facility for single-cell and spatial biology. By integrating advanced genomics, imaging, histology, and organoid technologies within a single platform, the laboratory is enabling breakthrough research in precision medicine, accelerating translational healthcare innovations, and equipping the next generation of researchers and clinicians with world-class capabilities.