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With lung cancer survival rates greatly improved by early detection, we’ve seen a number of efforts to develop a better way to detect the disease in its early stages. So-called lung cancer breathalyzers are one technology being developed by a number of research teams, including one from the University of Huddersfield in the UK, which plans to trial a breathalyzer device in pharmacies.
The project to develop the device, which is taking place over three years, involves researching a lung cancer “biomarker signature” that is detectable in breath. Previous studies have already shown that carbon-based sensors embedded with gold nanoparticles and even dogs can detect chemicals in the breath indicating the presence of the disease in the lungs…
The project has secured £105,000 in funding from the SG Court Pharmacy Group that operates a chain of pharmacies in the South East of England. It is in these pharmacies that initial trials of the technology will be carried out. The University of Huddersfield has provided matching funding for the project…
“There are 12,000 community pharmacies in Britain and there is a big move for them to get involved in primary diagnostics, because people visit their pharmacies not just when they are ill but when they are well,” says Dr Airley. “A pharmacy is a lot less scary than a doctor’s surgery.”
Bravo. Everything from mobile apps to pre-clinical testing at your local pharmacy provides an expanding range of opportunities for better health. Access is as important in early detection of illness as a well-studied physician. The latter ain’t doing you much good if you can’t get in to see anyone. And the odds get better when society at large has that early access.