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Learn MoreHonored for pioneering medical innovations.
What if a single breath — or a small wearable patch — could reveal disease long before symptoms appear? For years, Prof. Hossam Haick of the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology has been turning that revolutionary idea into a reality. By identifying invisible chemical signals emitted by the human body, Prof. Haick has helped transform how illness can be detected: faster, earlier, and without invasive tests.
His pioneering research has opened new paths for diagnosing cancer, neurological disorders, infectious diseases, and more — using breath, skin, and advanced sensing technologies rather than needles or radiation. That life-changing work has led to Prof. Haick’s election as a Fellow of the U.S. National Academy of Inventors. This prestigious distinction is widely recognized as one of the highest professional honors for academic inventors worldwide, reflecting broad international recognition of Prof. Haick’s scientific achievements, groundbreaking inventions, and far-reaching impact on health care, technology, and education.
Prof. Haick is among a select group of researchers and inventors worldwide who have completed the full innovation cycle: from basic scientific discovery, through technological development, to real-world impact that touches the lives of millions.
In an academic landscape where basic and applied science are often separate, he stands out as someone who bridges the two worlds, translating deep scientific discoveries into clinical and technological tools with global influence.”
Prof. Hossam Haick
His work led to the emergence of a new scientific field — volatilomics — which studies the chemical “fingerprints” the body emits through breath and skin.
This groundbreaking discovery has led to fast, noninvasive tests that give accurate results in just minutes and are used in medical centers worldwide. Additionally, Prof. Haick’s team has created smart patches that can monitor health from afar, along with new imaging tools that use chemical signals instead of radiation. These tools help doctors catch diseases early and provide personalized health care.
Prof. Haick has also translated innovation into real-world impact. He holds dozens of patents and has founded several startup companies that bring advanced diagnostics, wearable devices, and electronic sensing technologies into practical use. He also founded and leads seven European Union research consortia, uniting more than 70 partners across four continents to accelerate the development and clinical adoption of advanced medical technologies.
Equally significant is Prof. Haick’s role as an educator and mentor. He has published more than 500 scientific papers, authored two books, and supervised over 110 graduate and postdoctoral researchers, many of whom now lead research groups and technology companies of their own. His pioneering online course on nanotechnology and nanosensors — the first of its kind — has reached more than 1 million learners in 87 countries, extending Technion research and educational impact worldwide.
Prof. Haick will be formally inducted into the NAI on June 4, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. During the ceremony he will receive a medal, certificate, lapel pin, and rosette from the NAI President and the representative of the United States Patent and Trademark Office. This extraordinary achievement reflects both Prof. Haick’s personal excellence and the Technion’s enduring mission to advance science that improves lives around the world.
