Lung cancer is the deadliest form of cancer, annually accounting for more than 20% of all cancer deaths in the United States. Lung nodules are often the first sign of lung cancer, yet most are benign. Now, a simple nasal swab test could help clinicians avoid performing invasive biopsies unnecessarily—and detect lung cancer in patients faster. Thanks to technology developed at BU, biological markers linked to lung cancer can now be detected from swabs of the respiratory tract. Genomic diagnostic company Veracyte—which in 2014 acquired rights to technology invented by BU researchers Dr. Avrum Spira (ENG’02) and Marc Lenburg—reported new clinical data in June 2021 showing that their Percepta Nasal Swab test, based on Spira and Lenburg’s research, could correctly classify patients with potentially harmful lung nodules. Clinical data revealed the test could accurately distinguish patients who were at high risk of lung cancer from those at low risk, enabling more timely treatment. The company plans to make the Percepta Nasal Swab test available at select clinical sites by the end of 2021.