Owlstone Medical secures $49.1 million ARPA-H award
Cambridge-based breath diagnostics specialist Owlstone Medical has been awarded up to $49.1 million by ARPA-H to develop at-home multi-cancer early detection tests. The POSEIDON programme aims to detect 30+ solid tumours at Stage I using synthetic biosensors analysed through breath and urine samples, addressing critical gaps in accessible cancer screening.
Owlstone Medical has secured major United States federal funding to develop first-in-class synthetic-sensor based multi-cancer early detection (MCED) technology, marking a significant development in accessible oncology diagnostics. The award from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) will support the Platform Optimizing SynBio for Early Intervention and Detection in Oncology (POSEIDON) programme, targeting Stage I detection of more than 30 solid tumours through non-invasive home testing.
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)
Clinical rationale for early detection
The United States faces a substantial cancer burden, with approximately 40% of Americans developing cancer during their lifetimes. In 2025, an estimated 2 million new cancer diagnoses are projected, accompanied by over 618,000 deaths. The patient-related economic burden exceeded $21 billion in 2019, with late-stage diagnoses incurring significantly higher treatment costs compared to early-stage detection.
Current screening technologies demonstrate performance limitations for early-stage cancer detection, whilst geographical barriers prevent many Americans from accessing clinic-based programmes. Emerging liquid biopsy approaches, whilst promising for later-stage detection and therapy guidance, have shown insufficient performance in early-stage disease identification.
Technical approach and methodology
The POSEIDON programme employs a novel detection strategy utilising inhaled synthetic sensors delivered via single-use inhalers. These pan-cancer and tumour-specific sensors circulate systemically and accumulate on cancer cell surfaces. The technology generates two distinct reporter types: DNA-based barcodes and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), enabling detection across 36 cancer types.
Sample collection occurs at-home or in clinical settings through portable devices that capture urine and breath specimens. Results integrate directly with electronic health records (EHR) for real-time clinical review, facilitating seamless incorporation into existing healthcare workflows.
Collaborative research structure
Owlstone Medical will lead the programme in partnership with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston University, Georgia Tech Research Corporation, Qurin B.V., and Planned Systems International Inc. This consortium brings expertise spanning synthetic biology, oncology, medical device development, and healthcare data analytics.
Ross Uhrich, DMD, MBA, POSEIDON Programme Manager, stated: “The field of cancer screening needs a revolution, and POSEIDON stands ready to deliver. The program allows for a better future by creating broadly accessible, at-home tests that will accurately detect 30+ cancers as early as Stage I, when tumours are still small and the chances of survival are high.”
Economic and clinical impact
Detecting cancer at Stage I could restore up to $2.3 trillion to the US economy through reduced treatment costs and improved clinical outcomes. The technology’s over-the-counter availability and home-testing capability address accessibility challenges inherent in traditional screening programmes.
Billy Boyle, co-founder and CEO, Owlstone Medical
Billy Boyle, co-founder and CEO at Owlstone Medical, commented: “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. 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.”
The programme targets delivery of transformative MCED testing to all Americans within the next decade, representing a substantial shift in cancer screening accessibility and methodology.
- For more information, visit: https://arpa-h.gov/explore-funding/programs/poseidon
