SpotitEarly, an early cancer detection startup using trained dogs and AI to identify cancer-odor signatures in breath samples, announced Sept. 30 a research collaboration with the Hennessy Institute for Cancer Prevention and Applied Molecular Medicine.
The Hennessy Institute is part of the Hackensack Meridian John Theurer Cancer Center — part of the National Cancer Institute-designated Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center at Georgetown University — and Hackensack University Medical Center.
An estimated 40% of Americans will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lifetime. SpotitEarly has set out to decrease the number of late-stage diagnoses and increase survival rates. The company has developed a breath-based, at-home test starting with breast cancer that uses the olfactory abilities of trained dogs combined with its proprietary AI platform, LUCID, to analyze and detect cancer odor signatures found in a patient’s volatile organic compounds and provide patients with a more accessible option for early cancer detection.
This partnership with New Jersey’s largest and most comprehensive health network is a foundational collaboration for SpotitEarly, which entered the market in May 2025. The clinical research expertise of the Hennessy Institute and Hackensack Meridian Health will be critical in validating SpotitEarly’s technology. The collaboration will build on the company’s promising initial clinical trial results, with a 94% accuracy rate.
“Less than 15% of all cancers in the U.S. 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 U.S.”
With highly developed scent receptors in their nasal passages, these dogs are able to detect up-to-the-minute changes in odor, which can be indicators of disease in humans even before symptoms are noticed. This research collaboration between SpotitEarly and Hackensack Meridian Health will shine new light on a canine’s life-saving ability to sniff out cancer.
The research collaboration with Hackensack Meridian Health will begin with the launch of the PINK Study, a 2,000-participant multicenter, double-blind observational study focused on breast cancer detection. The study is led by breast cancer and cancer genetics specialist Dr. Elias Obeid, the medical director of the Hennessy Institute. The trial will enroll up to 500 women undergoing mammograms or biopsies for breast cancer detection at Hackensack Meridian Health.
“Almost 2/3 of cancer diagnoses have no screening test. At Hackensack Meridian John Theurer Cancer Center, we are deeply committed to early cancer detection — the ultimate way to improve patient outcomes,” said Dr. Andre Goy, physician-in-chief and vice president of Oncology at Hackensack Meridian John Theurer Cancer Center. “Partnering with SpotitEarly on this innovative breath test technology offers a potentially groundbreaking approach to screening and aligns perfectly with our mission to transform cancer care through proactive prevention.”
