Alison Quinn
Respiro detects lung cancer mutations from breath, informing treatment decisions for patients where existing testing has failed.
Project
Respiro Diagnostics
URL
Year founded
2025
Business stage
Seed
High-growth sectors
Life Sciences
Sector
Biotechnology
Location
Yorkshire and the Humber
Funding
Funded Award Winner
The problem and opportunity
Lung cancer is the UK’s leading cause of cancer death, and treatment increasingly depends on identifying the mutations driving each patient’s tumour. Tissue biopsy is invasive and often fails to yield a usable sample, while blood-based tests miss a substantial proportion of patients. Those left without a molecular result face delay, repeat procedures or treatment that is not matched to their disease, placing avoidable cost on the NHS.
The solution and innovation
Respiro is developing a breath test that captures tumour material directly from the lung, with work focused on achieving the sensitivity needed to detect clinically actionable mutations. Our collection device is patent pending, with further IP in our sample processing methodology. Shaped by extensive clinician and patient engagement, proof-of-concept testing in mesothelioma is complete, and our first clinical study begins in September 2026.
Market and ambition
Lung cancer molecular diagnostics is a multi-billion-dollar market, growing with every new targeted therapy. Over the next three years we will advance validation and pursue regulatory approval, moving toward launch. Alongside partners, we will progress use cases in other respiratory disease areas.
Founder perspective
Alison Quinn built her career in healthcare consulting and pharma strategy, where diagnostic bottlenecks decide whether patients get the right treatment. With experience in market access, she co-founded Respiro to make sure the tools that could change lung cancer outcomes reach the people who need them.
Women in Innovation Award
Recipient of an Innovate UK Women in Innovation Award 2025/26, receiving funding, tailored business support, and access to specialist training and networks. View all winners and highly commended applicants from the Women in Innovation cohort 2025/2026.