Israeli Scientist to Develop "Electronic Nose”

Hossam Haick, of the Technion Faculty of Chemical Engineering and the Russell Berrie Nanotechnology Institute at the Technion (Haifa, Israel), has been awarded an excellence grant totaling U.S.$2.21 million from the European Union (EU) for the development of an artificial olfactory system, or "electronic nose,” that can sniff out cancer.

In its initial stage, the electronic nose is intended to sniff out and diagnose lung cancer. "Realization of the research goal will enable creating an instrument based on nanometer-sized sensors that can diagnose different cancers and even determine at what stage the disease is by using breath samples [i.e., by blowing into the instrument],” explained Dr. Haick. "The diagnosis can be carried out at a very early stage even before the tumor has begun to spread. Thus, treatment will be immediate and will destroy the disease at its inception.”

The grant, named after Marie Curie, was awarded to Dr. Haick as part of EU efforts to strengthen and encourage promising, young scientists. Dr. Haick, a 31-year old scientist born in Nazareth, completed his Ph.D. at the Technion. He recently returned to the institute as a senior lecturer, following his post-doctorate at Caltech California Institute of Technology (Caltech, Pasadena, CA, USA).

"In our research, we already showed that, using nanosensors, it is possible to differentiate between a healthy human being and one with cancer,” said Dr. Haick. "The challenge now before us is to distinguish between the various types of cancer and the disease's stages.” With the grant that he received, plus the additional funds he received from the Technion through the Russell Berrie Nanotechnology Institute, Dr. Haick is setting up a laboratory that will include equipment valued at more than U.S.$1 million and is currently recruiting scientists from Israel and abroad.



Related Links:
Russell Berrie Nanotechnology Institute at the Technion
Caltech California Institute of Technology