Owlstone Medical secures US$49.1 million ARPA-H funding for at-home cancer detection technology
Cambridge-based Owlstone Medical has been awarded up to US$49.1 million from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) to develop a multi-cancer early detection test that can be performed at home using breath and urine samples. The funding forms part of ARPA-H’s Platform Optimising SynBio for Early Intervention and Detection in Oncology (POSEIDON) programme, which aims to make accurate, low-cost cancer screening accessible to all Americans.
The Cambridge-based company, a specialist in Breath Biopsy technology for early disease detection and precision medicine, will lead a consortium including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston University, Georgia Tech Research Corporation, Qurin B.V., and Planned Systems International Inc. The project targets Stage I detection of more than 30 solid tumours using synthetic sensor technology combined with the company’s EVOC probes as reporter molecules.
Clinical need and economic burden
Cancer remains the second leading cause of death in the United States, with more than 2 million new diagnoses and over 618,000 deaths projected for 2025. The patient-related economic burden exceeded $21 billion in 2019, with treatment costs forming the largest component. Late-stage diagnoses incur substantially higher costs than early-stage detection, whilst cancer remains most curable when identified early. Current screening technologies face performance limitations, whilst many Americans lack access to clinic-based screening programmes.
Technical approach and methodology
The proposed system employs inhaled synthetic sensors delivered via a single-use device. These pan-cancer and tumour-specific sensors circulate through the body and accumulate on cancer cell surfaces. The sensors generate two types of reporters: DNA-based barcodes and volatile organic compounds. These biomarkers can be collected non-invasively through urine and breath samples using portable analysis devices, supporting detection of 36 cancer types in total.
Results will integrate directly with electronic health record systems, enabling rapid review by healthcare professionals. The approach aims to amplify biological signals sufficiently to enable reliable early-stage detection whilst maintaining a low-cost manufacturing model suitable for widespread deployment.
Programme objectives and timeline
“Access to an accurate and low-cost MCED test that does not require a doctor’s visit or laboratory testing is key to preventing late-stage diagnoses,” said Billy Boyle, co-founder and CEO at Owlstone Medical. “This award validates both breath as a diagnostic approach and Owlstone’s EVOC probes as a reporter technology to overcome the shortcomings and challenges that have held back early cancer detection previously.” Ross Uhrich, POSEIDON Programme Manager at ARPA-H, emphasised the programme’s translational focus: “POSEIDON will allow every American the opportunity to test themselves long before they have symptoms and at their discretion. POSEIDON’s rigorous performance metrics and translational focus reflect our clear commitment to bring these technologies safely and directly to all Americans.”
The programme targets Americans aged 18 and older, with implementation planned within the next decade. Early detection at Stage I could restore up to $2.3 trillion to the US economy through reduced treatment costs and improved outcomes.
For more information, visit: https://arpa-h.gov/explore-funding/programs/poseidon
Owlstone medical team at the ARPA-H POSEIDON program launch. From left to right: Matthew Hart (OML: VP Programme – Chemical Protection), Neil Tween (OML: CFO), Ross Uhrich (ARPA-H: Program Manager, Health Science Futures), Max Alsworth (OML: CSO), Bryan Whitman (OML: Head of Clinical Translational Science)
