Just One Breath to Detect Disease
BreathInsight is a portable device that analyses VOCs/SVOCs in a short breath sample and gives a cancer risk signal in minutes.
Patients are diagnosed late, tests are invasive. BreathInsight detects cancer risk early and quickly to improve outcomes.
*Device is investigational, not approved yet.
Developed in collaboration with clinicians and researchers in leading hospitals and universities.
BreathInsight: a gamechanger in cancer detection
The world’s first portable, breath-based VOC and SVOC compound detector for early cancer detection.
Why Breath? Why Now?
Why cancer leaves a signature in breath
Cancer is a leading cause of death and a major economic burden worldwide. It kills ~10M people each year and is crippling healthcare providers. This comes with an economic cost of $840 billion. At least 50% of Cancers in the USA are diagnosed at stage III or IV. Cancer is found too late, using mostly invasive tools. Early-detection dramatically improves survival rates but is often missed because of the lack of effective screening.
VOC/SVOC patterns change when cancer develops
BreathInsight detects these patterns in real time
Breath contains chemical signatures of disease
Most cancers detected too late
Cancer kills ~10M people a year
$840B yearly economic cost
current challenges :
- Late diagnosis
- Overloaded healthcare pathways
- Limited tools in primary care
Compares BreathInsight to other products
What makes BreathInsight different
Other breath testing solutions rely on central lab analysis or large benchtop systems. BreathInsight is designed from the ground up as a true point-of-care platform: compact, portable, and focused on giving clinicians a clear risk signal that supports decisions in real time.
True point-of-care format
Portable device for use in clinics and hospital settings, designed for quick setup and minimal consumables.
VOC and SVOC detection
Engineered to capture and analyze both volatile and semi-volatile compounds linked to cancer biology, not just a narrow slice of the breath profile.
Objective risk signal
Embedded analytics translate complex breath patterns into an interpretable risk output that can support referral, triage, and monitoring decisions.
Aligned with treatment pathways
Development is focused on real clinical endpoints: impact on urgent referrals, imaging utilization, and time to diagnosis in cancer pathways.
How BreathInsight works in three steps
From the clinician’s perspective, the workflow is designed to be as simple as taking a blood pressure reading.
Exhale: Simple breath capture
Patients breathe for 3-5 seconds into a disposable mouthpiece connected to the BreathInsight device.
Analyze: On-device analysis
Integrated sensors and nanosensors capture the relevant fraction of the exhaled breath and analyze VOC/SVOC patterns using embedded machine learning.
Results: Clinically useful output
Within minutes, the clinician receives a risk signal or score on the device interface—designed to support, not replace, clinical judgement and existing guidelines.
Shows where BreathInsight is useful
Built for real-world cancer pathways
BreathInsight is being developed to fit naturally into existing workflows rather than creating parallel pathways. The initial focus is on scenarios where a rapid, non-invasive risk signal can have the most impact.
Primary care triage
- Support urgent cancer referral decisions (e.g. 2-week wait pathways).
- Provide an objective signal alongside symptoms, risk factors, & guidelines.
- Help prioritise high-risk patients and reduce unnecessary referrals.
Hospital clinics & diagnostics hubs
- Triage patients waiting for imaging or endoscopy.
- Identify those who may need expedited diagnostics.
- Offer a non-invasive option for patients where invasive tests are not immediately feasible.
Research & clinical trials
Standardized breath analysis for multi-site studies
current & future cancer types
Clinical focus and indication roadmap
Our initial indication focus is on cancers where earlier triage can meaningfully change outcomes and relieve pressure on existing pathways. Over time, BreathInsight is being developed as a platform capable of hosting multiple indication-specific signatures.
Liver cancer triage
Early focus on supporting urgent suspected liver cancer referrals and pathway triage.
Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers
Exploring use in colorectal and upper GI pathways as evidence and signatures mature.
Multi-cancer risk panels
Longer-term goal: breath-based signatures that can help flag elevated cancer risk across multiple tumour types.
* All indications are currently under investigation and subject to ongoing clinical validation.
Highlights
For clinicians and healthcare providers
BreathInsight is being designed to fit into the constraints of everyday practice: short appointment times, multiple competing priorities, and strict infection control. Our aim is to make breath testing as simple and reliable as any other point-of-care tool.
Training and onboarding designed for busy teams
Device service, maintenance, and calibration support
Standardised breath collection for accurate insights
Clear documentation to support local governance & adoption
Target audience
For diagnostics, pharma, & research partners
device working
Inside BreathInsight: from breath sample to risk signal
BreathInsight combines advanced breath handling, optical sensing, and embedded analytics in a compact portable device. It is being developed as a flexible platform capable of hosting multiple indication-specific signatures over time.
Breath capture & conditioning
The device guides patients through a 3-5 second breath sample using a disposable mouthpiece. Internal flow control and conditioning are designed to capture the most informative portion of exhaled breath while minimising background noise from the environment.
Optical sensing of VOCs & SVOCs
Our sensing architecture targets both volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds associated with cancer-related metabolic changes. Our nanosensors are engineered for stability and repeatability in clinical environments.
Embedded analytics & signatures
Raw sensor responses are transformed into higher-level features and interpreted by indication-specific models.
Our Team
Who is behind BreathInsight?
BreathInsight is developed by Nanosense, a team of engineers, clinicians, and scientists working at the intersection of optical sensing, chemistry, and data science. We combine decades of experience in sensor design with a deep focus on practical clinical implementation.
David Newman
CEO
Background: David Newman, a seasoned entrepreneur with a robust background in electronic, electromechanical, automotive, and heavy engineering, leads the commercial aspects of the company.
Experience: His experience spans over a decade in military service and another decade learning international business realities. He has a proven track record in various industries, including telecoms, advertising, and IT.
Roles and Contributions: David is responsible for the day-to-day management, marketing strategies, commercial due diligence, project creation, and managing the IP portfolios. His leadership is pivotal in steering the company towards commercial success.
Prof. J. Ramsden
Chief Scientist
Background: Honorary Professor of Nanotechnology at Buckingham University, UK, Prof. Ramsden brings a wealth of knowledge in nanotechnology and optical fibre sensors.
Qualifications: With a doctorate in chemical physics and extensive research experience, he has authored over 200 research articles and co-invented three patents.
Roles and Contributions: As the Technical Director, Prof.
Ramsden oversees the scientific and technical development of the company’s products, ensuring they are at the forefront of the industry.
Prof. J. Ramsden
Chief Scientist
Background: Honorary Professor of Nanotechnology at Buckingham University, UK, Prof. Ramsden brings a wealth of knowledge in nanotechnology and optical fibre sensors.
Qualifications: With a doctorate in chemical physics and extensive research experience, he has authored over 200 research articles and co-invented three patents.
Roles and Contributions: As the Technical Director, Prof.
Ramsden oversees the scientific and technical development of the company’s products, ensuring they are at the forefront of the industry.
Mark Gilmore
COO
Background: A founding Director of Viridis Navitas Capital Partners Ltd, Mark brings over two decades of experience in senior and executive sales management.
Experience: His diverse experience ranges from IT start-ups to FTSE 500 companies, with a strong track record in exceeding revenue and margin targets.
Roles and Contributions: Mark’s role encompasses managing sales and operations. He plays a crucial role in driving the company’s growth and ensuring operational excellence.
Steven Strauss
CFO
Steven is a Chartered Accountant and Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. Steven manages tax and finance for the NanoSense Group of Companies.
Tom Benzie
Head of Product Development
Background: With nearly 36 years in the aerospace industry, Tom Benzie has specialised in engineering systems for both human and equipment conditioning.
Expertise: His passion for ensuring aircraft passenger safety aligns with the company’s goals in the aviation sector.
Roles and Contributions: Tom leads the application development of the technology, particularly in the aviation sector, bringing valuable industry insights and technical expertise.
Adam Bishop
Commercial Director
Background: Adam is a commercial innovator with a strong technical foundation in Physics with Medical Applications (QEC, London University) and early experience in the emerging data communications industry.
Experience: He has held commercial roles at GEC Plessey and British Telecom and later built his own ventures in sub-sea cables, data centres and the water industry, repeatedly using disruptive technology to challenge monopolies in complex global markets.
Roles and Contributions: Adam has developed and led new commercial operations in technically and contractually complex environments worldwide and, for the past decade.
Trevor Stanley
Experience: His career spans brand management at Glaxo, a 20-year tenure at Molnlycke, and leadership roles at Draeger Medical Devices and IDX Systems International, later acquired by GE Healthcare. He has also held senior roles with Quest Diagnostics, Axellis, Milliman, and Hearst Corporation.
Roles and Contributions: Trevor has led startups to revenue generation, secured venture capital investment, and most recently directed international sales and marketing operations for a Nasdaq-listed medical device company.
Humberto Goyen
Strategy & Marketing Director
Expert in strategy and business development at startups, scaleups, and enterprises in over 55 countries. A former consultant with top-tier firms Booz Allen Hamilton and Strategy& (PWC).
Early insight. Less uncertainty. BreathInsight is being developed to make cancer detection gentler, faster, and non-invasive.
A simple breath test designed to offer earlier answers and reduce uncertainty in the cancer detection journey.
Know more about us?
About BreathInsight and Nanosense
BreathInsight is a Nanosense initiative focused on bringing breath-based cancer triage to everyday clinical practice. Our team blends deep technical expertise with a clear focus on patient and clinician needs.
Mission
Enable early detection of cancer and other diseases in asymptomatic individuals through a short breath.
Vision
Decrease global cancer mortality by detection at a curable stage, saving lives and reducing healthcare costs.
Why?
Cancer kills ~10M people each year and is crippling healthcare providers.
What?
Initially target lung, liver and breast cancer with a roadmap to GI, pancreatic, prostate and testicular.
How?
A portable, real time, non-invasive triage device that enables earlier cancer detection from a single 3–5 breath.
Ready for a Gentler Approach to Early Detection?
A quick breath test could bring clarity when you need it most. Start with a conversation.