Kerala chemical engineer & micobiologist wife run startup that detects cancer through breath

When chemical engineer Nidhin Sreekumar, a native of Thiruvananthapuram, resigned from his teaching career to start a venture, his goal was simple — to develop sensor technology that could help plants communicate and grow better. But a casual suggestion from his wife, Dr Aswathy Udayan, a microbiologist, changed everything.

“What if this technology could detect diseases?” she asked. That question not only transformed their research direction but also brought her on board as a co-founder. The result was VolTrac VOC, a groundbreaking disease detection device capable of identifying illnesses — including cancer and tuberculosis — through a simple breath test. The device offers a quick, non-invasive alternative to conventional lab tests that take days.

Their startup, Accubits Invent Pvt Ltd, operates from the Bio360 Life Sciences Park in Thiruvananthapuram. It primarily focuses on interdisciplinary research spanning biotechnology, artificial intelligence, blockchain, behavioural science, and material sciences.

“I come from a nano-polymer background,” says Nidhin, who previously worked as an Assistant professor at SCT College of Engineering, Thiruvananthapuram, and Kalasalingam University in Tamil Nadu. “During my academic years, I explored volatile molecular identification and plant-to-plant communication. That’s where the idea took root.”

After nine years in academia, Nidhin ventured into the startup world in 2019. His early research focused on how plants communicate using volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and soil microbes. “We realised that there were no VOC sensors available with minute sensitivity, and that’s when we saw the potential,” he explains.

The turning point came when Aswathy suggested using the same sensor technology for detecting bacteria and fungi and thereby infections. “That pivot opened a whole new dimension — applying it for human health,” says Nidhin. Aswathy, who holds a PhD in microbiology and specialises in formulation science.

Accubits Invent was formally registered in 2020 as a deep-tech research company with a primary focus on VOC analysis — gases emitted in trace amounts during biochemical reactions.

The team’s major breakthrough came in 2024 when they obtained a patent for their sensor technology. “Until then, it was purely research. Once we received the patent, we decided to bring it to the market,” says Nidhin.

VolTrac works similarly to a breathalyser — users simply blow into the handheld device, and within 1.5 minutes, it can screen for diseases. “Every disease produces a unique VOC even before symptoms appear. Detecting these compounds early can increase survival rates and reduce medical costs,” says Karthik, Head of Operations.

The VolTrac sensor operates efficiently at room temperature, unlike other prototypes that require high heat — often mutating the volatile compounds and reducing accuracy. “That’s why similar products couldn’t progress. Our sensor avoids that limitation,” Karthik adds.

Currently, VolTrac can identify multiple diseases, including tuberculosis, various cancers, and metabolic disorders. Its selectivity accuracy stands at 98.5%, and it’s expected to hit the market within the next two to three years, pending medical certifications and regulatory approvals.

Another innovation from Accubits Invent is DeTecX, an air quality and hygiene monitoring device designed mainly for hospitals. It instantly detects airborne pathogens and infection risks within 15 seconds, offering a major upgrade over conventional air sampling methods that take up to 48 hours.

“If an operation theatre is infected, the current process delays detection and increases exposure risk,” says Karthik. “DeTecX continuously analyses the air every 30 minutes and uses a colour-coded alert — green for safe, yellow for caution, and red for high contamination.”

The sensors will also help identify a VOC pattern associated with a fresh disease or infection as soon as it forms.

“Our vision is to make this technology useful for humanity,” says Karthik. “We even discovered applications beyond hospitals — like addressing the so-called ‘Monday sickness’ in corporate offices caused by poor indoor air quality after weekends.”

Their VOC technology also extends to perishability monitoring, helping track fruit and vegetable ripening and spoilage. Both VolTrac and DeTecX are available in wall-mount and handheld versions.

Accubits Invent currently operates with a seven-member team, including co-founder Ditto P S, who oversees the technical and funding aspects.