Global scientific studies demonstrate that dogs can be trained to detect various human diseases, including cancer, Parkinson's disease, and COVID-19. The Bengaluru-based startup Dognosis uses artificial intelligence to analyze parameters such as the brain activity, breathing, and body language of dogs, turning their scent reactions into measurable data.
The dog Chloe, participating in the experiments, is located outside India's tech capital, Bengaluru. She is assisted in learning to recognize the smell of human breath indicating the presence of cancer, with support from AI. Chloe is equipped with a muzzle and leash made with 3D printing and containing sensors, allowing the animal's exceptional sense of smell to be used to create a non-invasive test for this disease.
Akash Kulgod, a co-founder of Dognosis, 26 years old, told AFP that dogs are capable of performing thousands of scent tests per hour, and each test can assess a sample. The company plans a commercial launch next year, making it the third such company after firms from Germany and Israel.
Early diagnosis is critically important for improving survival chances in cancer, but in many regions of India, patients receive a diagnosis only at late stages of the disease. Dogs' olfactory abilities can provide a simple and accessible primary screening that can be scaled to find potential cases requiring further examination.
Dognosis, which receives support from venture funds including Accel India, collaborates with government medical institutions to conduct research. Chloe, a Labrador mix, is one of fifteen dogs being trained by the company and wearing special helmets for data collection.
Kulgod, who comes from a family of doctors and studied cognitive science at the University of California, Berkeley, compared the equipment to an 'Iron Man suit' for the dog.
Promising Research
Scientific data suggests that different diseases can alter the chemicals emitted by the body, thereby creating unique odors. Dogs possess approximately 300 million olfactory receptors, significantly exceeding the five million found in humans. The testing process is quite simple: the patient breathes into a cotton mask for about ten minutes, which is then hermetically sealed and sent to the laboratory; during this time, patients do not interact with the dogs.
A recent study by Dognosis, conducted with over 1500 volunteers across six hospitals in Karnataka state, was published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. The company stated that it achieved an accuracy of over 90 percent when analyzing seven major types of cancer and now intends to conduct trials in real-world programs.
Oncologists specializing in cancer in Bengaluru, independent of this project, expressed cautious optimism. Santosh Kumar Devadas, head of oncology at Ramaiah Hospital, noted that the 'research is promising as an early signal,' but stressed the need for larger-scale studies before drawing final conclusions.
Nilesh Reddy, senior consultant oncologist at Manipal Hospitals, told AFP that 'only time will tell how useful this technology will be for real patients.'
Work-Life Balance for Dogs
India recognizes cancer as a serious public health issue, noting that one in nine people in its population of 1.4 billion may contract the disease. Dognosis states its goal is to improve 'proactive and preventive medicine' while simultaneously strengthening 'human-dog communication.'
Most of the dogs involved in the project are Beagles, as well as some mixes of Malinois and Shepherds, which the company acquired through adoption or legitimate breeders. Kulgod clarified that selection is done among the best individuals. Each dog is individually featured on the company website as an official 'sniffer' with a photo.
These animals maintain a good work-life balance, as working hours are limited to about 30–45 minutes per day. At a center called 'Sniffspace', the dogs test human samples on platforms equipped with automatic feeders dispensing treats. Co-founder Kulgod, Itamar Bitan, 28 years old, who worked four years in a special dog unit from Israel, explained that the dogs were trained using 'positive reinforcement' to detect a 'specific odor' in exchange for a reward.
}, {