Sierra Medical and the EIC Accelerator: A Swab for Lung Cancer
Sierra Medical, which trades as AIRA Sciences, was founded by Dr Liberty Foreman to bring infrared spectroscopy into routine cancer screening. In June 2022 the EIC Accelerator selected it for a grant for a "new AI-based method for early detection of lung cancer", according to the EIC's list of selected companies. No project for this award appears on CORDIS, so its amount, dates and results cannot be checked there.
The company's lead product, AIR-DS Lung, analyses a cheek swab for lung cancer biomarkers and "is UKCA approved, ISO 13485 and IEC 62304 certified", according to its June 2026 announcement. It says it is running RADICAL-REACT, a multi-site UK clinical study, while preparing a US launch as a laboratory-developed test and an FDA submission. Its latest accounts at Companies House, to January 2025, show four staff on average, £217,929 in cash and net assets of £316,099.
Company file
- Legal entity
- Sierra Medical Ltd, company no. 13115958, Barleythorpe, Rutland
- Trading name
- AIRA Sciences
- Incorporated
- 6 January 2021
- Leadership
- Dr Scott Tackett (CEO); Dr Liberty Foreman (founder, CInO, chair)
- Product
- AIR-DS Lung cheek-swab test
- Approvals
- UKCA; ISO 13485 and IEC 62304 certified
- EIC award
- SM-S1, June 2022 cut-off, grant only
Where Sierra Medical Stands Now
On 1 June 2026 AIRA Sciences announced its US launch and appointed Dr Scott Tackett, previously vice president for global market access at Intuitive Surgical, as chief executive. Dr Foreman became chief innovation officer and chair and "remains a major shareholder". Companies House records a share allotment on 31 July 2026 and a new director in September 2026.
The record
A cheek-swab lung cancer test heads to the US
Sierra Medical, trading as AIRA Sciences, was selected for an EIC grant in 2022 for AI-based early detection of lung cancer. No project appears on CORDIS. The company is running a UK clinical study and launched in the US in 2026.
- Jan 2021Sierra Medical Ltd incorporatedRutland, England
- Jun 2022EIC Accelerator cut-offSM-S1 lung cancer detectiongrant only
- Jan 2025Balance sheet turnsLoans fall; £900,275 share premium appears
- Jun 2026US launchScott Tackett becomes CEO
- Jul 2026New shares issuedAllotment filed
- 2026RADICAL-REACTMulti-site UK clinical study running
Companies House, EIC and AIRA Sciences.
"After more than a decade building the science of infrared cancer detection, we are at the inflection point where the next phase requires a different operating cadence."
Dr Liberty Foreman, founder, AIRA Sciences, June 2026The Technology: Infrared Light Plus AI
A 10-second buccal swab is sent to a partner laboratory, which records its infrared spectrum; AIRA's cloud software removes biological and environmental noise and reports whether cancer is suspected. The company says the test is "77% accurate in finding cancer and 94% accurate in ruling it out", equally accurate at stage I and stage IV, and that early data point to other aerodigestive cancers such as oesophageal and colon cancer.
The test
How accurate AIRA Sciences says AIR-DS is
The company says the test is 77% accurate in finding lung cancer and 94% accurate in ruling it out, and equally accurate at stage I and stage IV.
AIRA Sciences, AIR-DS product page.
What the EIC Project Promised, and What CORDIS Shows
The accounts
Cash and net assets at each January year end
Net assets turned positive in the year to January 2025 after other loans fell from £886,851 to £130,892 and share premium of £900,275 appeared. The company employed four people on average that year.
Companies House, Sierra Medical Ltd 13115958. Values in £ thousands.
The award was for AI-based early detection of lung cancer, which is what AIR-DS Lung does. But CORDIS has no grant agreement, so there is no budget, work plan or report. The company's accounts do not name EU funding. Its accumulated losses were only £618,921 by January 2025, which does not show whether an EIC grant was received.
- Grant agreement on CORDISAbsentNo record found.
- Regulatory approvalDeliveredUKCA approved.
- Clinical validationOngoingRADICAL-REACT study.
- Market entryStartingUS launch, 2026.
The Money
In the year to January 2025 other loans fell from £886,851 to £130,892 and share premium of £900,275 appeared, turning net liabilities of £504,331 into net assets of £316,099. The company files without a profit and loss account, so its revenue is not public. Accounts for the year to January 2026 are due by 31 October 2026.
The spending
Accumulated losses at each January year end
The deficit grew by £245,205 in the year to January 2024 and by £14,588 in the year to January 2025.
Companies House, Sierra Medical Ltd balance sheets. Values in £ thousands.
What Cannot Be Checked
Questions for the EIC
Whether Sierra Medical signed a grant agreement, how much was paid and by whom, what the RADICAL-REACT study has found and how the 77% and 94% figures were measured are not public.
Why Europe Should Care
AIRA says only 30% of cancers are found before stage III, citing published research. A swab test that AIRA describes as affordable and non-invasive could widen lung cancer screening. The EIC selected the idea, but its next commercial step is in the US.
What the award promised
A new AI-based method for early detection of lung cancer.
What the record shows
A UKCA-approved swab test, a clinical study, a four-person company and no EU project record.
The Verdict
Promising test, missing paper trail
Sierra Medical says it built the lung cancer test the EIC selected and is taking it to the US. What the EU award paid for, if anything, cannot be traced.
Sierra Medical and the EIC have not been asked for comment for this article. It is based entirely on public records and published statements, linked throughout.
Industry
HealthIn vitro diagnostics
- Focus
- Diagnostic software
- Technologies
- Spectroscopy
- Artificial intelligence
- Keywords
- Lung cancer
- Cancer screening
- Cheek swab
- Early detection