Respiro raises £1M to detect lung disease from breath
Respiro Diagnostics is testing whether DNA, RNA and proteins captured from exhaled breath can support earlier and less invasive respiratory diagnostics.
Most liquid-biopsy approaches focus on blood. Respiro Diagnostics is testing whether the lungs can be profiled through something much easier to collect: breath.
What happened
UK startup Respiro Diagnostics raised a £1M pre-seed round led by Zinc Venture Capital and SFC Capital.
Other participants include Amadeus Capital Partners, the Conception X Angel Syndicate, KQ Labs, strategic angels and Innovate UK.
Its platform analyses DNA, RNA and proteins captured from exhaled breath to support detection and molecular profiling of lung cancer and other respiratory diseases.
The company plans its first lung-cancer clinical study at Aalborg University Hospital in September 2026.
Why it matters
The potential advantage is the sample source.
Tissue biopsies can be invasive, while blood-based tests may not always capture the most direct signal from the respiratory system. Breath could offer a more accessible route if the molecular information proves clinically reliable.
The key risk is validation. The company still needs to show that the signals it captures are robust enough for meaningful clinical use.
The bigger picture
Diagnostics is becoming more molecular and less invasive.
Startups are increasingly looking beyond conventional blood tests toward new biological samples and sensor modalities. Respiro’s round reflects the search for diagnostic platforms that can combine easier collection with clinically useful precision.