The Screen4Care consortium is pleased to announce the signing of a Material Transfer and Data Agreement (MTDA) between the General Hospital of Papageorgiou, Thessaloniki (Greece) and the Screen4Care consortium marking the official start of Greece’s participation in the project.

This agreement formalizes a new collaboration led by Dr. Athina Ververi, Physician Geneticist and Pediatrician at the Department of Rare Disease Genetics, Papageorgiou General Hospital, Thessaloniki, in close cooperation with Prof. Alessandra Ferlini, Scientific Coordinator of Screen4Care and Head of the Medical Genetics Unit at UNIFE in Ferrara.

Advancing Newborn Genomic Screening in Greece

Through this collaboration, Greece joins the growing network of Screen4Care clinical partners contributing to the early identification of rare, treatable genetic conditions in newborns. The Thessaloniki site will contribute dried blood spot (DBS) samples collected as part of routine newborn screening, which will be processed and analyzed within the Screen4Care framework. Samples will be analyzed using the Screen4Care TREAT gene panel, supporting early diagnosis and timely clinical intervention, while ensuring compliance with all ethical, legal, and data protection requirements established within the project.

Strong Clinical and Research Collaboration

The collaboration brings together clinical expertise from Greece with advanced genomic analysis and coordination at UNIFE and partner institutions in Italy. It also lays the foundation for future expansion of newborn genomic screening activities in Greece, potentially involving additional clinical sites and research collaborations. In parallel, Greece’s participation has been supported by close engagement with patient representatives and national stakeholders, reinforcing Screen4Care’s commitment to responsible innovation and patient-centered research.

A Growing European Network

The inclusion of Thessaloniki Hospital further strengthens Screen4Care’s European network, supporting the project’s mission to reduce diagnostic odysseys and improve outcomes for children affected by rare diseases across Europe.

The Screen4Care consortium warmly welcome our Greek collaborators to Screen4Care and look forward to the impactful results of this collaboration.