SpotitEarly, a US-based early cancer detection startup, has announced a research collaboration with the Hennessy Institute for Cancer Prevention and Applied Molecular Medicine at Hackensack Meridian John Theurer Cancer Center. The collaboration will initially focus on breast cancer and plans to expand to other cancers in future studies.

The partnership combines SpotitEarly’s trained canine detection program with its AI platform, LUCID, to identify cancer odor signatures in patient breath samples. The company aims to reduce late-stage cancer diagnoses and increase survival rates through more accessible early detection. SpotitEarly launched its technology in May 2025, and early clinical trials have shown a 94 percent accuracy rate.

“Less than 15 percent of all cancers in the US are diagnosed through a recommended screening protocol. This number is far too low, especially with how much we know about the life-saving potential of early detection,” said Shlomi Madar, CEO of SpotitEarly. “Our goal is to help close this gap by exploring and developing innovative screening solutions. Driven by a shared mission to transform our healthcare system from a reactive to a proactive one, this partnership with Hackensack Meridian Health marks a pivotal first step in making our technology available in the US.”

Dogs’ nasal receptors, estimated to be 10,000 to 100,000 times more sensitive than humans’, allow them to detect changes in odor that may indicate disease even before symptoms appear. The collaboration will launch the PINK Study, a multicenter, double-blind observational trial enrolling 2,000 participants, including up to 500 women undergoing mammograms or biopsies. Elias Obeid, medical director at the Hennessy Institute, leads the study to ensure participants and researchers remain unaware of individual results until validated.

“Early detection is critical in the fight against breast cancer,” said Dr Obeid. “This collaboration with SpotitEarly allows us to explore a promising new method that could significantly impact how we screen for the disease.”

Andre Goy, physician-in-chief and vice president of oncology at Hackensack Meridian John Theurer Cancer Center, added: “Almost 2/3 of cancer diagnoses have no screening test. Partnering with SpotitEarly on this innovative breath test technology offers a potentially transformative approach to screening and aligns perfectly with our mission to improve patient outcomes through proactive prevention.”

While the initial focus is breast cancer, future research will target additional cancers including lung and prostate, strengthening the potential impact of this approach on early cancer detection.