Over the past five years, entrepreneur Vivek Wadhwa has been working on an ambitious project to detect cancer using only a person’s breath. His new company, Vionix Biosciences Inc., aims to collect health information in a less invasive way, similar to using a breathalyzer. Wadhwa, known for his work in Silicon Valley, has assembled a team of advisors from renowned medical institutions, including Harvard Medical School and Mayo Clinic, to help prove the concept.
Unlike the now-infamous blood-testing startup Theranos, Wadhwa is starting small and focusing on building a working prototype. He has invested $500,000 of his own money into the project and plans to spend another $500,000, even dipping into his retirement savings. If successful, this device could greatly improve certain types of cancer screening and enable earlier detection, especially in underserved communities.
Wadhwa’s journey into the world of cancer detection began when his wife was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. This personal experience led him to delve into researching the disease and seek advice from experts and tech leaders involved in healthcare, such as author Siddhartha Mukherjee and Napster co-founder Sean Parker.
Through his research, Wadhwa realized the need for a tool that can provide on-site tests with higher levels of detail than current methods. He envisioned a portable device that costs $5,000 or less, uses minimal power, and produces results in under five minutes. The challenge lies in accurately measuring breath, as it contains various compounds related to different types of cancer. However, other companies and researchers, such as the UK’s Owlstone Medical and the University of Colorado, are also exploring breath diagnostics.
Despite the challenges, Wadhwa is determined to make a difference. Vionix plans to start with breath tests and then expand to blood tests, urine tests, and saliva tests, all using a cold plasma-based process licensed from a group in Chile. To ensure transparency and prevent ethical lapses, Wadhwa’s policy is to have outside researchers use Vionix and document their results.
Wadhwa’s motivation stems from his wife’s battle with cancer and her desire to prevent others from suffering the same fate. By enabling earlier detection, he believes that her words and thoughts will live on through his work. As he said, “I will be hers forever.”
It’s too early to predict the success of Vionix and its cancer-detecting device, but the potential impact and dedication behind the project leave room for hope. With a commitment to transparency and a focus on improving healthcare, Wadhwa aims to build a profitable company that could be worth billions while staying true to his wife’s memory.
In the realm of healthcare technology, cautionary tales like Theranos serve as reminders to approach innovation with integrity and diligence. Wadhwa’s approach, along with the expertise of his team of advisors, offers promise in the quest for a more efficient and less invasive method of cancer detection.
Use the share button below if you liked it.