Advancing Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening
ARPA-H Leaders Visit Boston University to Support Development of the POSEIDON Program:
Boston University recently welcomed representatives from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) for a strategic visit that focused on Boston University’s role in the development of the innovative POSEIDON (Platform Optimizing SynBio for Early Intervention and Detection in Oncology) program. Led by Program Manager Ross Uhrich, the ARPA-H initiative aims to develop noninvasive, at-home screening technologies that analyze breath and urine samples for biomarkers associated with more than 30 types of cancer. The goal is to create an accessible diagnostic test capable of detecting cancers at their earliest stages, when treatment is most effective.
Through ARPA-H’s award of up to $49.1 million to Owlstone Medical, one of four lead awardees in the POSEIDON program, Boston University researchers are playing a key role in advancing these technologies, working closely with Owlstone to develop and validate approaches that support the program’s mission.
The event took place on June 3, 2026, at Boston University’s Duan Family Center for Computing & Data Sciences and ended with a tour of the DAMP (Design, Automation, Manufacturing, and Processes) Lab, in the Rajen Kilachand Center for Integrated Life Sciences & Engineering. The gathering brought together leaders representing Boston University, ARPA-H, Owlstone Medical, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to discuss the pathway toward delivering a clinically adopted and commercially viable multi-cancer early detection platform.
This recent visit drew attention to BU’s growing reputation as a hub for convergent research, where researchers from engineering, biology, medicine, data science, and translational research come together to address pressing health challenges. It was also an opportunity to review both the scientific advances of the project and its readiness for translation into real-world clinical use. The discussion was focused on product development, regulatory strategy, commercialization pathways, market access, stakeholder engagement, and ways to facilitate adoption among patients and healthcare professionals.
“ARPA-H was interested in understanding how the team plans to move from technology development to clinical adoption and commercial deployment,” said Dr. Liang Hao, co-principal investigator for POSEIDON at Boston University. “The conversation extended well beyond the science itself to include accessibility, regulatory readiness, and community-based deployment models.”
The day began with opening remarks from Elise Morgan, dean of the College of Engineering and Shannon Stott, chair of the Department of Biomedical Engineering, followed by presentations of the processes involved in product development, commercialization, investment planning, and stakeholder rollout. Scientists from BU and MIT highlighted the multidisciplinary collaboration capabilities that drive the POSEIDON program forward.
Following the presentations, guests were welcomed by Kenneth Lutchen, vice president and associate provost for Research and Lloyd Munjanja, director of Research Development before touring the lab and its research capabilities at the Kilachand Center.
“It was great to welcome colleagues from ARPA-H and Owlstone to Boston University and give them a closer look at our research facilities and the work being done across the University,” Dr. Lutchen said. “Solving major challenges like cancer requires strong partnerships among universities, industry, and the federal government. Boston University is making strategic investments in the talent, infrastructure, and partnerships needed to advance breakthrough research and turn scientific discoveries into solutions that improve people’s lives.”
A significant part of the visit gave the ARPA-H delegation an opportunity to see research capabilities through demonstrations of ongoing work conducted at Boston University. Team members showcased key elements of the clinical testing platform: Lena Landaverde (4th-year Biomedical Engineering PhD student, Research Associate, DAMP Lab, BU) introduced the clinical sample processing and testing pipeline, Audrey Van Heest (4th-year Biomedical Engineering PhD student, Hao lab, BU) demonstrated the urinary paper-strip diagnostics, and Daniel Kim (MD/PhD Candidate, Bhatia Lab, MIT) presented the GC-MS approach for detecting disease-associated volatile organic compounds. The work builds on Dr. Hao’s expertise in molecular engineering, synthetic biology, as well as her work on noninvasive diagnostic biosensors that can detect disease-associated biological activity and convert those signals into measurable outputs. The visit also highlighted BU’s broader investments in biomedical engineering, synthetic biology, and translational research infrastructure.
Several topics stood out in the conversations with the agency representatives, reflecting their interest in technology development, regulatory strategies, commercialization options, and outreach to underserved communities. Particular emphasis was placed on ensuring that future screening technologies are accessible to individuals who face barriers to healthcare, including those living in rural areas and historically underserved communities. The POSEIDON program’s human-centered design approach prioritizes affordability, usability, and accessibility to help reduce disparities in cancer detection, and ultimately treatment.
Boston University’s involvement in POSEIDON reflects its commitment to moving discoveries beyond the laboratory and into practical applications that improve lives. “Engagement with ARPA-H strengthens opportunities to translate engineering and biosensing innovations into real-world diagnostics,” said Dr. Hao. “It also demonstrates the value of multidisciplinary partnerships among academic institutions, industry leaders, and federal agencies working together to address major public health challenges.”
A successful implementation of the POSEIDON technology would increase access to cancer screenings by allowing people to obtain samples at home, reducing reliance on doctor’s visits and costly hospital procedures. Dr. Hao and collaborators hope the technology will improve early detection rates, enable earlier interventions, and ultimately reduce cancer-related mortality.
The ARPA-H meeting highlighted the potential impact of projects like POSEIDON and underscored the role that collaborative research can play in advancing biomedical innovation. As the project progresses, the partnership among BU, MIT, Owlstone Medical, and ARPA-H will provide an example of how translational science can drive the development of technologies with the potential to improve health care nationwide.