New Study Tests Whether A Beagle’s Nose Can Detect Breast Cancer

January 20, 2026

Hackensack Meridian Health’s Hennessy Institute for Cancer Prevention & Applied Molecular Medicine is leading a new breast cancer clinical trial called the PINK Study to validate an innovative breath test developed by SpotitEarly. The study will be led by Elias Obeid, M.D., a specialist in breast cancer and cancer genetics, and the medical director of the Hennessy Institute.

The SpotitEarly test combines a simple, at-home breath test with a beagle’s incredible sense of smell to detect breast cancer, offering new hope for a painless, noninvasive way to find cancer early.

How The SpotitEarly Test Works

Healthy and cancer cells produce different types of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs are picked up by the blood as it travels through the body. When blood passes through the lungs, VOCs are released in the exhaled air. Exhaled VOCs associated with cancer cells create a “signature smell” that is undetectable to the human nose.

After a patient breathes into a breath-collection mask for three minutes, the mask is sealed in a container and sent to the lab. The sample is then presented to a highly trained dog. Using its remarkable sense of smell, the dog can detect the distinctive odor emitted by cancer cells. In trials so far, the dog's detection has been incredibly accurate.

AI Analysis and Results Validation

After the dog performs the “sniff test,” SpotitEarly’s unique AI platform, LUCID, analyzes the findings. First, the platform examines how the dog reacts to the sample, including changes in body language and heart rate. A machine also analyzes the breath sample for the chemical evidence of VOCs associated with cancer.

Women already getting a mammogram or biopsy at Hackensack Meridian Health will be invited to participate in the study. Participants will provide a breath sample for the new test and complete a quick survey. Researchers will then compare the results from the new breath test against the actual medical results from the mammogram or biopsy to determine whether the SpotitEarly test is accurate.

Learn more about Hackensack Meridian Health’s SpotitEarly research.

Learn more about our innovations in cancer care.