Over the last five years Vivek Wadhwa, an entrepreneur and academic, has been working on a project to detect cancer using breath. His new company, Vionix Biosciences Inc., aims to collect health information in a less invasive way. Wadhwa has brought on advisers from Harvard Medical School, the Mayo Clinic, and Massachusetts General Hospital to prove out the concept. He has already invested $500,000 and plans to spend another $500,000 on the initiative. The goal is to have a working prototype later this year or in 2024.
If successful, this tool could improve cancer screening and enable earlier detection in underserved communities. However, there are still numerous obstacles to overcome.
Wadhwa, born in India and now residing in the US, has a background in the technology industry. He has founded two companies, written five books, and held prestigious teaching positions. His career as a public commentator has brought him both fame and notoriety.
Wadhwa’s journey took a turn when his wife was diagnosed with cancer. This prompted him to dedicate his time to learning about the disease and led to the development of his vision for a portable, affordable, and efficient device for on-site cancer testing.
While breath measurement is challenging, Wadhwa’s company aims to tackle this task and eventually expand into blood, urine, and saliva tests. The device, powered by artificial intelligence, will recognize key characteristics of diseases and detect biomarkers more accurately.
The portable nature of the device makes it suitable for both clinical and non-clinical settings, particularly benefiting disadvantaged populations. However, it is still too early to determine if the technology will work as intended.
Wadhwa is determined to promote transparency and avoid repeating the mistakes of Theranos, another blood-testing startup that faced fraud allegations. He plans to involve outside researchers to validate the machine and document their results.
Throughout his wife’s illness, her words and thoughts motivated Wadhwa to prevent others from suffering the same fate. Her untimely death reinforced the importance of early detection in cancer treatment.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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