One breath is all it takes: VAir reinvents respiratory diagnostic

What if a simple breath test could detect a respiratory infection in just a few minutes? That’s the challenge taken up by VAir, a start-up developing rapid, non-invasive and portable medical diagnostic technology. Using innovative biosensors, their device can identify pathogens such as influenza or COVID in the early stages of infection. Selected for the Future of Health Grant programme and supported by H4, VAir was able to test its innovation directly in the field, alongside healthcare professionals, in order to transform a technological feat into a solution that is truly adapted to medical practices.

Can you introduce yourself in a few words: who are you and what does your start-up do?

VAir develops medical devices for diagnosis through breath, capable of detecting respiratory infections in just 3 minutes, in a non-invasive, portable and automated manner.

In concrete terms, our technology is based on proprietary biosensors integrated into interchangeable cartridges. The patient breathes into the device, which quickly identifies the presence of pathogens (flu, COVID, etc.) in the early stages of infection, with sensitivity and specificity comparable to reference molecular tests.

The aim is to offer a fast, reliable and easy-to-use solution to doctors and healthcare establishments in order to improve triage and isolation decisions, reduce unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions, limit the transmission of infections and reduce hospitalisation costs.

What convinced you to join H4 and meet with healthcare professionals in the field?

What convinced us to join H4 was the unique opportunity to co-develop our solution with healthcare professionals, directly in the field. Our ambition is to offer a rapid, non-invasive and reliable respiratory diagnosis, but for it to be truly useful, it must be designed with healthcare professionals, taking into account their needs and daily constraints.

In March 2025, VAir was selected for the new cohort of the Future of Health Grant, a programme supporting innovation in healthcare that assists start-ups and researchers developing disruptive solutions. Beyond funding, this programme has given us privileged access to clinical partners such as H4, experts in the healthcare ecosystem and testing grounds.

This framework provides us with the ideal conditions to progress in a logic of co-development and usability validation of our devices, and thus transform a technological innovation into a practical solution that is accepted and adopted by those who need it most.

How did the hands-on experience go? Was there a particular meeting or moment that stood out for you?

As part of H4’s support programme, we were able to work directly with healthcare professionals – particularly nurses and emergency doctors – who immediately expressed a genuine interest in our device. Together, we identified different usage scenarios suited to their daily practices, which gave us a better understanding of their expectations and constraints.

A memorable moment was when we presented our first prototype to them: we received valuable feedback not only on its design, but also on the practical aspects of its use in real-life situations. These exchanges enabled us to adjust our approach and confirm that our solution meets a real need in the field.

How did this direct contact with healthcare professionals help your project evolve?

Direct contact with healthcare professionals allowed us to move beyond a purely technological approach and anchor the development of our device in the reality of medical practice.

Specifically, discussions with caregivers helped us to:

• prioritise usage scenarios where our solution provides the most value,

• adapt the design and ergonomics of our first prototype so that it fits naturally into their daily routines,

• and better anticipate the organisational and regulatory constraints associated with its adoption.

This co-development approach has reinforced our belief that our innovation is not only technologically advanced, but that it can also become a truly usable, accepted and useful solution for those on the front line of healthcare.

And now, what are the next steps for your start-up after the H4 experience?

After the H4 experience, our next steps are to consolidate our prototype and prepare for clinical validation. Specifically, we will:

• incorporate feedback from healthcare professionals to optimise the ergonomics and usability of our device,

• continue technical development to enhance the performance of our solution,

• and establish clinical and industrial partnerships with a view to conducting the first real-world trials in 2027.

All this while remaining faithful to our approach of co-development with healthcare professionals, in order to ensure smooth adoption and a concrete impact in the field.

What message would you give to a start-up considering going through H4?

Go for it without hesitation. It’s a rare opportunity to test your healthcare innovation directly with those who will be your future users.

H4 not only allows you to test your project in the real world, but also to co-create with healthcare professionals, receive concrete and sometimes unexpected feedback, and save valuable time in development.

It’s a demanding but extremely rewarding experience that transforms a technological idea into a truly useful, usable and adopted solution.