Soon cancer detection could be possible through breath analysis

Vivek Wadhwa, a well-known figure in Silicon Valley, has been quietly working on an ambitious project for the past five years. His goal is to create a device that can detect cancer in a person’s breath, similar to a breathalyzer. This innovative project has led to the formation of his new company, Vionix Biosciences Inc. Unlike some high-profile startup founders who made grand promises, Wadhwa is taking a cautious approach. He has enlisted the expertise of advisors from prestigious institutions like Harvard Medical School, the Mayo Clinic, and Massachusetts General Hospital to help prove the concept. Wadhwa has already invested $500,000 of his own money and plans to commit another $500,000 to develop a working prototype by 2024.

The potential impact of such a device is significant. It could greatly enhance cancer screening, particularly in underserved communities, by enabling earlier detection. However, there are considerable challenges ahead.

Vivek Wadhwa, now 66 years old, originally hails from India but made his mark in the US technology industry. He founded two companies, authored five books, and held prestigious teaching positions, including one at Singularity University, which aimed to address global problems through entrepreneurship.

Wadhwa gained both fame and notoriety as a public commentator. His opinion columns in the Washington Post often criticized the tech industry for lacking meritocracy, long before issues of racial and gender disparities gained widespread recognition. He also advocated for greater representation of women in tech, although some critics found his approach condescending. Eventually, he deferred leadership in this area to women.

Wadhwa’s life took a different turn when his wife, Tavinder, fell ill during a family vacation in Mexico in 2018 and was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. This personal crisis compelled him to delve into the world of cancer research, seeking advice from experts like Siddhartha Mukherjee and tech philanthropist Sean Parker.

Through this journey, Wadhwa realized the need for a tool that could provide detailed on-site tests surpassing current diagnostic methods. He envisioned a portable device that costs less than $5,000, consumes minimal power, and delivers results in under five minutes, all in a compact form factor.

However, detecting through breath poses significant challenges, as acknowledged by Alex Morgan, a venture capitalist. Other companies, such as Owlstone Medical in the UK, have also explored breath diagnostics. Additionally, researchers at the University of Colorado have developed a laser-based breathalyzer for detecting Covid-19.

Valuable information related to various types of cancer.

Despite these hurdles, in July, Wadhwa officially launched Vionix Biosciences, initially considering blood tests but later focusing on breath tests after consultations with diagnostics experts. Surprisingly, breath contains valuable information related to various types of cancer.

Once Vionix masters breath tests, it plans to expand to blood tests, urine tests, and saliva tests, all using a cold plasma-based process licensed from a group in Chile. Artificial intelligence will be employed to identify disease biomarkers more accurately than existing tools.

The portable nature of the Vionix device holds promise, especially for underserved or rural populations. Keith Flaherty, a Harvard Medical School professor and advisor to Vionix, believes this approach could be revolutionary but cautions that it’s too early to guarantee success.

The caution expressed by Flaherty is well-founded, given the notorious downfall of Elizabeth Holmes’ Theranos, which also promised groundbreaking diagnostics but ultimately collapsed amid allegations of fraud. Wadhwa aims to avoid a similar fate by ensuring transparency and involving external researchers to validate Vionix’s technology.

In conclusion, Vivek Wadhwa’s journey from a prominent commentator on Silicon Valley to the founder of Vionix Biosciences is deeply personal. Driven by his wife’s battle with cancer, he is determined to make early cancer detection more accessible. While challenges lie ahead, his commitment to transparency and ethical practices sets a different course from the troubled history of some high-profile health tech startups.

Please, also have a look into : Detecting early signs of stomach cancer