Millions of Americans live with lung diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). During National Healthy Lung Month in October, the UAB Harbert Institute is highlighting a UAB startup working to improve how physicians detect and monitor obstructive lung diseases.
Spiromatics, Inc., founded by Surya Bhatt, M.D., MPSH, Professor of Medicine, Endowed Professor of Airways Disease, and the Director of the Center for Lung Analytics and Imaging Research at UAB, Arie Nakhmani, Ph.D., Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Dr. Sandeep Bodduluri, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine, is developing technologies that analyze lung function and medical imaging to identify signs of disease that traditional testing methods may miss.
By helping physicians detect changes in lung health earlier, the company hopes to support more timely treatment and improve patient care.
“Earlier detection and objective continuous tracking of obstructive lung diseases such as asthma and COPD could help to treat them more effectively and potentially prevent significant life-threatening events,” Nakhmani said. 
One of Spiromatics’ key innovations is a proprietary method for analyzing the shape of a spirometry volume curve, which shows how much air a person exhales and how quickly. Their approach has shown the potential to identify approximately 10 percent more patients with COPD, around five years earlier than standard diagnostic criteria.
Traditional spirometry testing can be time-consuming and difficult for some patients to perform, often requiring guidance from a trained professional. Computed tomography (CT) scans can provide detailed images of the lungs but expose patients to radiation. These limitations can make it more difficult to detect subtle changes in lung health and monitor disease progression.
Spiromatics is working to develop alternative approaches designed to make lung testing more accessible. The company has developed a device intended for use in clinical settings and at home to help track lung health, with clinical testing expected to begin soon.
Although COPD is the company’s primary focus, its technologies could also benefit the diagnosis and management of other obstructive lung diseases, including asthma.
Spiromatics is continuing to develop and validate its technologies by evaluating their performance in people with and without lung diseases. The company is also developing software to analyze lung function data and identify quantitative biomarkers in lung CT images.
Together, these efforts aim to give physicians a more comprehensive picture of respiratory health and additional tools to detect and monitor lung disease.
Learn more about Spiromatics here.
-- Oct. 29, 2026