The new method, developed by Tel Aviv-based startup SpotitEarly, features dogs guided by artificial intelligence to identify cancer at its early, more treatable stages. In tests at Assuta Ramat HaHayal Hospital in Tel Aviv, specially trained beagles showed a 94% accuracy rate at catching four of the most common types of cancers.

“This is a tool with the potential to save lives,” said Gidi Leshetz, CEO of Assuta Medical Centers, which is running the study through its innovation arm, RISE. “It is non-invasive, simple, and, most importantly, has the power to create real change for patients. Early detection has been proven to save lives.”

Many cancers are diagnosed too late when treatment is more difficult and less effective. SpotitEarly’s test offers a new path that is painless, affordable, and scalable. Patients simply breathe into a face mask for three minutes. The mask is then sent to a lab, where specially trained Beagle dogs sniff the sample under the watch of an AI system. Each breath sample is checked multiple times — three to five times per patient — to ensure high reliability.