Cambridge’s Owlstone Medical has won an award worth up to $49.1 million from the U.S. Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) to develop a revolutionary at-home multi-cancer early detection (MCED) test.
The project, called POSEIDON, aims to create a simple and affordable test capable of detecting more than 30 types of solid tumors at Stage I — using only breath and urine samples. It builds on Owlstone’s pioneering Breath Biopsy® technology, which can identify diseases through biomarkers in exhaled breath.
Working with leading partners including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston University, Georgia Tech Research Corporation, Qurin B.V., and Planned Systems International Inc., Owlstone plans to make cancer screening as easy as using an inhaler. Patients would inhale synthetic biosensors that detect cancer cells and release unique signals, which are then collected through breath or urine for analysis.
This innovative approach could provide early, accurate, and accessible cancer detection without a hospital visit, particularly benefiting people who struggle to access traditional screening. The system’s design also allows real-time result uploads to healthcare records, making integration into modern care seamless.
Owlstone CEO and co-founder Billy Boyle said: “Access to accurate, low-cost cancer testing without visiting a doctor or laboratory is critical for preventing late-stage diagnoses. This award not only validates breath-based diagnostics but also brings us closer to transforming how cancer is detected worldwide.”
By focusing on early-stage detection, the POSEIDON program could dramatically boost survival rates and reduce healthcare costs — marking another breakthrough innovation from Cambridge’s thriving life sciences sector.