Latest news with #Madar
New York Post
23-05-2025
- Health
- New York Post
New home test can detect cancer — thanks to puppies who sniff it out
Howl-elujah! You've probably heard that dogs can be trained to sniff out cancer. Now, Israeli startup SpotItEarly is harnessing that remarkable ability — along with groundbreaking technology — to launch medicine's next secret weapon. 5 SpotItEarly is developing a revolutionary at-home cancer screening test that's part pup, part AI. Courtesy of SpotitEarly Inc The biotech company is developing a revolutionary at-home cancer screening test that's part pup, part AI. Here's how it works: You order a test that arrives at your door, breathe into a high-tech mask that resembles an N95 for three minutes and mail the sample to SpotItEarly's lab. There, a team of professionally trained dogs will give it a good sniff — and if there's any cancer present, they'll know. 'Our dogs are natural workers and love being mentally stimulated by their sense of smell. Training them to detect odors wasn't a challenge; it is in their nature,' Shlomi Madar, CEO of SpotitEarly, told The Post. 'With around 250-300 million receptors, a dog's sense of smell is estimated to be between 10,000 to 100,000 times more sensitive than a human's. That is what makes them highly effective for scent-based tasks, such as those in police forces or for detecting diseases in humans.' 5 These good boys will give your sample a good sniff — and if there's any cancer present, they'll know. Courtesy of SpotitEarly Inc According to Madar, the dogs make their diagnosis by detecting cancer odor signatures in a patient's volatile organic compounds (VOCs) — biological information from the blood in our lungs that travels into the air we exhale. As incredible as these pup-fessional super-sniffers are, the real magic happens when canine intelligence meets artificial intelligence. 'As the detection dogs are sniffing the samples in the lab, we use our proprietary AI platform, LUCID, to track and analyze their physiological and behavioral signals, collecting thousands of data points per second,' Madar explained. 'LUCID will generate a positive lab result if a cancer signature is identified in a sample. This fusion of advanced technology with the extraordinary olfactory abilities of canines enables each sample to be screened in a fraction of a second, making the solution highly scalable.' 5 As incredible as these pup-fessional super-sniffers are, the real magic happens when canine intelligence meets artificial intelligence. SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images The goal is to spot cancers earlier, when they're easier and cheaper to treat. 'Too often, cancer diagnoses come too late,' Madar said. 'Our goal is to reduce late-stage and potentially fatal cancer diagnoses. The data is clear: when we detect cancer earlier, we significantly improve survival rates and outcomes.' The test, which is in late-stage development, is expected to hit the market in 2026 with an estimated price tag of $250. That's per cancer type, with bundled discounts for multi-cancer screenings. 'We plan to work with health insurers to cover the test to reduce the financial burden on patients,' he said. 'Once it becomes commercially available, this will be a high priority for us.' In a recent clinical study, SpotItEarly's cancer-screening method clocked a 94% accuracy. 5 'Too often, cancer diagnoses come too late,' Shlomi Madar, CEO of SpotitEarly, told The Post. Getty Images If it works, it may save you a trip to the doctor and an unpleasant procedure. 'Many individuals avoid routine cancer screenings because they can be uncomfortable and invasive,' Madar said. 'By simplifying the process to a self-administered screening test where users just breathe into a mask, [this] levels that barrier and encourages more proactive testing.' Research has found that only 14% of cancers in the US are diagnosed by a traditional screening test. While SpotItEarly is not looking to replace them, Madar said he does want to 'improve the cancer diagnosis and treatment ecosystem, shifting it from sick care to true health care.' Now — back to the dogs. 5 'Our dogs are not lab animals; they're truly a part of the SpotItEarly team,' he said. Courtesy of SpotitEarly Inc The pups work a few hours a day in teams and they're rewarded with treats and love. When they're off the clock, they get outdoor playtime, belly rubs and plenty of human attention. And when they retire? They're adopted into loving homes — often by the very people who worked with them. 'Our dogs are not lab animals; they're truly a part of the SpotItEarly team,' Madar said. And while cancer is the priority for now — especially as it's mysteriously on the rise in younger people — Madar believes the tech could one day help sniff out other diseases too, including Parkinson's and serious infections. 'We aim to make early diagnosis the norm, consequently increasing the chances of survival at scale,' he said.
Zawya
22-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Oman backs 55 tech startups under Nomu programme
Muscat – Fifty-five technology startups have been accepted into the second edition of the Nomu Programme, an initiative by Ministry of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology (MTCIT) aimed at accelerating the growth of promising early-stage companies. At an introductory meeting held by the ministry on Wednesday, participating startups were briefed on the programme's services, including workshops, one-on-one consultations, marketing support, and business development opportunities. Representatives from key partner organisations – including the 'Madar' platform and the Capital Market Incentive Programme – gave presentations outlining the tools and resources available to participants. The event also featured dialogue sessions with startups from the first edition of the programme, offering an opportunity to share experiences and insights. Ministry officials said the initiative is designed to build an ecosystem where startups in the initial and accelerated growth stages can thrive. 'The programme provides participating companies with the necessary knowledge and skills to grow and expand, both locally and regionally,' a ministry official said. Nomu targets startups with a functioning prototype and a proven user base, as well as those that have secured early-stage funding. © Apex Press and Publishing Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Muscat Daily
21-05-2025
- Business
- Muscat Daily
Oman backs 55 tech startups under Nomu programme
Muscat – Fifty-five technology startups have been accepted into the second edition of the Nomu Programme, an initiative by Ministry of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology (MTCIT) aimed at accelerating the growth of promising early-stage companies. At an introductory meeting held by the ministry on Wednesday, participating startups were briefed on the programme's services, including workshops, one-on-one consultations, marketing support, and business development opportunities. Representatives from key partner organisations – including the 'Madar' platform and the Capital Market Incentive Programme – gave presentations outlining the tools and resources available to participants. The event also featured dialogue sessions with startups from the first edition of the programme, offering an opportunity to share experiences and insights. Ministry officials said the initiative is designed to build an ecosystem where startups in the initial and accelerated growth stages can thrive. 'The programme provides participating companies with the necessary knowledge and skills to grow and expand, both locally and regionally,' a ministry official said. Nomu targets startups with a functioning prototype and a proven user base, as well as those that have secured early-stage funding.
BBC News
23-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
Family's journey to honour WW2 airman at crash site
Relatives of an American airman who died in the Isle of Man's biggest aviation disaster are visiting the site of the crash 80 years service personnel were travelling from Essex to Northern Ireland on a B-17 Flying Fortress bomber when it hit the rocky hillside of North Barrule, killing all 31 on board. Donald Madar is the great nephew of technician Andy Piter Jr, from Pennsylvania, who was 22 when he died in the crash. He said he was visiting the site with his cousins for the first time "to honour him". Mr Madar had planned on making the trip for the 75th anniversary in 2020 but was unable to due to the coronavirus pandemic. Just weeks before the end of World War Two, on 23 April 1945, the servicemen were due to visit Belfast for a few days of group were to have a short break from the base at Ridgewell in Essex where they repaired Madar said: "I started investigating his life back in 2003 and I was able to talk to many of the folks that he served with at Ridgewell."I kept digging and he became a very interesting figure for us."In his grandmother's house there was "a painting of Andy", he said, adding: "We all looked up to him as our family hero."Mr Madar said he thought it would be very "touching" to visit the site where remains of the wreckage remain to this day. "I'm sure we'll all be shedding a tear, it will be a touching spot," he year, members of the Manx Aviation and Military Museum fly the American flag next to the memorial. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
