Oesophageal cancer

Alcohol contributes to millions of deaths each year and is linked to cancer, liver disease, accidents, violence and dependence and addiction. Despite this, the disconnect between alcohol’s cultural role and its serious health burden is striking.

Billed as "a pill on a string," the Cytosponge is designed to scrape off cells from the length of the oesophagus as it is yanked out after swallowing, offering up a larger sample for inspection for signs of cancer.