In this episode of BRCA & Beyond, Marisa sits down with Dr. Shlomi Madar, CEO of SpotitEarly, to explore how the company is combining trained detection dogs and artificial intelligence to develop a non-invasive, at-home breath test for cancer pre-screening.
Dr. Madar explains how SpotitEarly’s LUCID Bio-AI Hybrid platform identifies the odor signatures cancer can leave in exhaled breath. Trained dogs analyze each sample, while AI interprets their behavioral responses and converts them into a consistent result. One breath sample is evaluated for signs associated with four cancers: breast, lung, prostate, and colorectal.
They discuss the science behind canine scent detection, how the dogs are trained, the role AI plays in reducing human interpretation, and what happens when a sample produces a positive result. Dr. Madar also shares findings from SpotitEarly’s peer-reviewed clinical research, which reported 94% sensitivity and specificity in early-stage cancer, as well as the company’s collaborations with Penn Medicine, Fox Chase Cancer Center, and Hackensack Meridian Health.
The conversation also covers SpotitEarly’s CLIA-certified laboratory, its BRCA genetic testing option, the ongoing Pink Study, and what still needs to happen before this type of cancer pre-screening could become more widely available.
Dr. Shlomi Madar holds a PhD in cancer research from the Weizmann Institute of Science and has more than 15 years of leadership experience across oncology, diagnostics, and healthcare business development. At SpotitEarly, he leads the company’s U.S. expansion, strategic partnerships, clinical collaborations, and fundraising. SpotitEarly was named one of TIME’s Best Inventions of 2026.
SpotitEarly: https://www.spotitearly.com
Dr. Shlomi Madar on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shlomimadar/
SpotitEarly on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spotitearly/
Published study in Scientific Reports: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-79383-2
The Pink Study enrollment: https://redcap.hmhn.org/redcap/surveys/?s=WLT8E3J3JWWHD37F
This episode is for educational purposes and does not provide medical advice. Speak with your healthcare provider about cancer screening and genetic testing recommendations based on your personal and family history.
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