From HeroRATs to cancer-detecting canines, Dr. Tim Edwards is using the super-sniffing power of animals to save lives.

While working for humanitarian organisation APOPO, Dr Edwards was responsible for the research behind the organisation’s HeroRATs – pouched African rats capable of smelling out landmines and tuberculosis. Now at the University of Waikato, he is continuing his scent-based research, this time using dogs to detect lung cancer in breath and saliva samples. This could enable earlier warning and treatment of the disease, which is responsible for most cancer-related deaths internationally. As well as seeing whether breath or saliva provides the stronger indicator, Dr. Edwards is also comparing the dog’s response with chemical tests to inform the development of machine-based technology to diagnose lung cancer and other cancers.

Dr. Tim Edwards

University of Waikato

Medical Science Award

From HeroRATs to cancer-detecting canines, Dr. Tim Edwards is using the super-sniffing power of animals to save lives.

While working for humanitarian organisation APOPO, Dr. Edwards was responsible for the research behind the organisation’s HeroRATs – pouched African rats capable of smelling out landmines and tuberculosis. Now at the University of Waikato, he is continuing his scent-based research, this time using dogs to detect lung cancer in breath and saliva samples. This could enable earlier warning and treatment of the disease, which is responsible for most cancer-related deaths internationally. As well as seeing whether breath or saliva provides the stronger indicator, Dr. Edwards is also comparing the dog’s response with chemical tests to inform the development of machine-based technology to diagnose lung cancer and other cancers.