The Problem: Unmet Need

Late diagnosis is a common feature of major gastrointestinal cancers. In the UK, 75,277 patients are diagnosed and 44,455 die annually. NICE referral guidelines are age-dependent and mainly include red-flag symptoms, resulting in cancer diagnosis at an advanced stage — the current cancer yield of urgent referral pathways is just 4.4–5%.

Five-year survival rates remain poor: oesophageal (15.9%), gastric (20.7%), pancreatic (9.0%), liver (12.6%) and colorectal (50.7%).

The Laboratory

Our state-of-the-art dedicated laboratory suite at Imperial College London's Hammersmith Campus is purpose-built for breath analysis. It features non-VOC emitting infrastructure with positive pressure ventilation, four laboratories dedicated to different workflow stages, plus cell culture and tissue processing facilities. ISO-17025 accreditation planned for 2025.

VOC Methodology

We use thermal desorption gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TD-GC-TOF-MS), adhering to EMA guidance with a VOC quantification limit of 1.25ng/L. A bespoke LIMS provides full traceability from breath sampling to data generation.

MSHub — AI Analytical Platform

MSHub processes and analyses GC-MS breath data using molecular network analysis to identify VOC biomarkers that separate cancer from controls. Fully automated, unlimited data volume, operable without high-performance computing.

Biomarker Discovery Results

Health Economic Modelling

A breath test pathway for oesophagogastric cancer would cost the NHS £138M vs £293M for the current pathway — an annual saving of £155M. 99% of patients rate breath testing as easy or very easy.

Intellectual Property

Biomarkers owned by Imperial College London. The Hanna Group are inventors of seven patents filed worldwide covering novel VOC biomarker panels for multiple gastrointestinal cancer types.

Background

Participation

Recruitment to this trial takes place through participating NHS centres. If you think you may be eligible, please speak with your GP or hospital clinician who can refer you through the appropriate pathway.

Healthcare professional enquiries:

Working with The Hanna Group

We are a multidisciplinary team of clinicians, scientists, engineers and data specialists based at Imperial College London's Hammersmith Campus. Our team includes clinical research fellows, analytical scientists, data scientists, trial managers, and laboratory technicians. We are committed to fostering a supportive, collaborative and inclusive working environment.

We welcome talented individuals at all career stages — from PhD students and clinical research fellows to postdoctoral researchers and senior scientists. Our group members have secured fellowships from major funders including the MRC, NIHR, Cancer Research UK, Wellcome Trust, and the China Scholarship Council.

Current Vacancies

There are currently no open vacancies. Please check back regularly — new positions will be posted here as they become available.

What is breath analysis?

Breath analysis is a method of diagnosing and monitoring human diseases non-invasively by detecting volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breath. VOCs are carbon-containing compounds that are sufficiently volatile to be detectable in the gas phase at room temperature. Different diseases produce different patterns of VOCs, which can be detected using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).

How does the breath test work?

Patients breathe into a collection device for a few minutes. The exhaled breath is captured on thermal desorption (TD) tubes, which are then transported to our dedicated VOC laboratory at Imperial College London's Hammersmith Campus. The samples are analysed using thermal desorption gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TD-GC-TOF-MS), which can detect VOCs at concentrations as low as 1.25 nanograms per litre. Our bespoke AI platform, MSHub, then processes the data using molecular network analysis to classify samples.

What cancers can the breath test detect?

Our research spans five major gastrointestinal cancers: oesophageal, gastric, pancreatic, liver (hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma), and colorectal cancer. We have also expanded into neurological conditions including Parkinson's disease (PANORAMA) and epilepsy (VIBES), as well as oesophageal cancer survivorship (MAPLES).

How accurate is the breath test?

Our biomarker discovery results show strong diagnostic performance: oesophageal & gastric cancer (AU-ROC 0.90, externally validated at 0.85 in 335 patients), colorectal cancer (AU-ROC 0.91 in 1,432 symptomatic patients), pancreatic cancer (AU-ROC 0.90), and liver cancer (AU-ROC 0.94 — the highest in our portfolio). These results are now being validated in large-scale multicentre clinical trials.

Can I participate in a clinical trial?

Our trials recruit patients who are being investigated for symptoms that could be related to gastrointestinal cancers. Recruitment takes place through participating NHS centres — you cannot self-refer directly to the research team. If you are experiencing symptoms and think you may be eligible, please speak with your GP or hospital clinician who can refer you through the appropriate NHS pathway. If your hospital is a participating centre, the clinical team there will be able to discuss the study with you.

Is the breath test available on the NHS?

The breath test is currently a research tool being validated in clinical trials. It is not yet available as a routine NHS diagnostic test. Our aim is to complete the validation process and translate the breath test into routine clinical practice in primary care. Health economic modelling suggests that a breath test pathway for oesophagogastric cancer would save the NHS £155M annually compared to the current pathway.

What does the breath test feel like?

The test is non-invasive, painless and takes only a few minutes. In the MAGIC study of 1,002 patients, 99% found breath testing easy or very easy. There is no preparation required beyond a minimum fasting period.