Respiro Diagnostics, a UK-based startup developing breath-based diagnostics for lung
diseases, has raised £1 million in a pre-seed funding round led by Zinc Venture Capital and SFC Capital. The round also included participation from Amadeus
Capital Partners, the Conception X Angel Syndicate, KQ Labs through the Francis
Crick Institute, strategic angel investors and Innovate UK.
Founded by Alison Quinn and Dr Theo Issitt, Respiro is developing a non-invasive liquid biopsy
platform that uses exhaled breath to detect lung cancer and other respiratory
diseases. The company’s technology combines a proprietary breath collection
device with laboratory methods that analyse DNA, RNA and proteins captured from
breath samples, providing an alternative to invasive tissue biopsies and
blood-based liquid biopsies.
Respiro’s
platform is being developed as a non-invasive alternative to existing
diagnostic methods for lung diseases. Unlike tissue biopsies, which require
invasive procedures, the technology analyses biological material collected
directly from exhaled breath, including DNA, RNA and proteins. According to the
company, this approach could support earlier diagnosis and provide additional
information to guide treatment decisions.
Our vision
is simple: that one day, a breath sample is all it takes to know what’s
happening in your lungs — early, while there’s still time to act,
said Alison
Quinn, CEO and co-founder of Respiro Diagnostics.
Respiro has
completed initial proof-of-concept testing in mesothelioma patients and plans
to begin its first clinical study in lung cancer patients at Aalborg University
Hospital in Denmark in September 2026. The company is also evaluating potential
applications of its platform in other respiratory conditions, including
pulmonary hypertension and asthma.
The funding will
support Respiro’s clinical research and the continued development of its breath
collection device and laboratory platform as the company advances towards
clinical validation.