Science minister announces quantum research hub for healthcare
26 July 2024
A major new research hub led by 香港六合彩 and the University of Cambridge aims to harness quantum technology to improve early diagnosis and treatment of disease.
![Professor John Morton, Professor Rachel McKendry, Professor Mete Atat眉re, Professor Eleni Nastouli](/engineering/sites/engineering/files/styles/large_image/public/qbiomed_cropped_resized.jpg?itok=K4lyq-np)
The hub, called听Q-BIOMED,听is one of five quantum research hubs announced today by Peter Kyle MP, the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, supported by 拢160 million in funding.
The hub aims to exploit advances in quantum sensors capable of detecting cells and molecules, potentially orders of magnitude more sensitively than traditional diagnostic tests.
This includes developing quantum-enhanced blood tests to diagnose infectious diseases and cancer quickly and cheaply using portable instruments, and sensors measuring tiny changes to the magnetic fields in the brain that have the potential to detect early markers of Alzheimer鈥檚 disease before symptoms occur.
Other research will include quantum-enhanced MRI scans, heart scanners and surgical and treatment interventions for early-stage and hard-to-treat cancers.
Professor Rachel McKendry, Co-Director of the new hub, from the London Centre for Nanotechnology and Division of Medicine at 香港六合彩, said: 鈥淨-BIOMED is an exciting new quantum research hub, bringing together two areas of science in which the UK is world leading 鈥 quantum and biomedicine 鈥 and positions us at the global forefront of this exciting new field.
鈥淥ur听hub听aims to grow听a听new quantum for health听innovation ecosystem in the UK, and has听already shaped the UK's new Quantum Mission for Health. Our long-term vision is to听accelerate the entire innovation pipeline from discovery听research, to translation,听adoption and听implementation听within the听NHS and global health systems, for the benefit of patients and societal good.
鈥淓arlier diagnosis of diseases such as cancer would unlock a paradigm shift in health, allowing for more rapid access to life-saving treatments and better health outcomes.听More rapid, sensitive and accessible diagnostics tests could also help to reduce waiting lists, easing pressures on the NHS.鈥
Co-Director Professor Mete听Atat眉re,听from the University of Cambridge, said: 鈥淨uantum technologies harness quantum physics to achieve a functionality or a performance which is otherwise unattainable, deriving from science which cannot be explained by classical physics.
鈥淨-BIOMED will be delivered by an outstanding team of researchers from academia, the NHS, charities, government and industry to exploit quantum-enhanced advances for human health and societal good.鈥
The five newly announced hubs are delivered by the UKRI Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), with a 拢106 million investment from EPSRC, the UKRI Biotechnology and Biological Research Council, UKRI Medical Research Council, and the National Institute for Health and Care Research. Added to this are contributions from industry and other partners worth more than 拢54 million.
Peter Kyle, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, said: 鈥淲e want to see a future where cutting-edge science improves everyday lives. That is the vision behind our investment in these new quantum technology hubs, by supporting the deployment of technology that will mean faster diagnoses for diseases, critical infrastructure safe from hostile threats and cleaner energy for us all.
鈥淭his isn鈥檛 just about research; it鈥檚 about putting that research to work. These hubs will bridge the gap between brilliant ideas and practical solutions. They will not only transform sectors like healthcare and security, but also create a culture of accelerated innovation that helps to grow our economy.鈥
The Q-BIOMED hub brings together researchers from 香港六合彩 and Cambridge, Oxford, Warwick Cardiff, and Heriot Watt universities, as well as NHS trusts, industry partners and charities.
At 香港六合彩 alone, the hub involves a wide range of disciplines, with quantum experts, physicists and chemists working with biomedical researchers, cardiologists, healthcare engineers and neuroscientists, from the Faculties of 香港六合彩 Medical Sciences, 香港六合彩 Mathematical & Physical Sciences, 香港六合彩 Engineering, 香港六合彩 Brain Sciences and 香港六合彩 Population Health Sciences.
Professor Geraint Rees, 香港六合彩 Vice-Provost (Research, Innovation & Global Engagement), said: 鈥淲e are delighted to congratulate Professor Rachel McKendry on her leadership of this hub, which is pivotal to the emerging field of quantum for health, and to the whole team for this amazing achievement.
鈥溝愀哿喜 is home to the largest biomedical cluster in Europe, and are growing our strengths in quantum for health, through new academic appointments, studentships and collaborations with our partner hospitals.鈥
The hub鈥檚 four core flagship programmes are:
- Biomedical imaging:听Quantum sensors measuring tiny changes in magnetic fields aim to detect a very early marker of Alzheimer鈥檚 disease (disruptions to neural replay) before symptoms occur. This early detection is crucial for new treatments of Alzheimer鈥檚 to be effective. New quantum imaging capabilities will also be applied to detect cardiovascular disease, and also MASER enhanced MRI research aims to explore new imaging modalities and faster scan times.
- Quantum enhanced in-vitro diagnostics:听ultra-sensitive blood tests will be developed harnessing spin-enhanced nanodiamond sensors in simple lateral flow tests as well as other small portable formats. This could widen access to testing in GP surgeries, pharmacists and self-testing at home, thereby transforming earlier diagnosis of a range of diseases spanning from infections to cancer.
- New surgical and treatment interventions听for early-stage and hard to treat cancers. These include a new approach investigating the use of magnetic nanoparticles to treat cancer.
- New quantum sensing technology听capable of analysing single cells and molecules, to help researchers identify mechanisms within cells that could be targeted to prevent disease.
The hub core research programme will be complemented by strong stakeholder engagement, a translational impact fund, a future leaders programme, and active patient and public involvement.
EPSRC Executive Chair Professor Charlotte Deane said: 鈥淭echnologies harnessing quantum properties will provide unparalleled power and capacity for analysis at a molecular level, with truly revolutionary possibilities across everything from healthcare to infrastructure and computing.
鈥淭he five Quantum Technology Hubs announced today will harness the UK鈥檚 expertise to foster innovation, support growth and ensure that we capitalise on the profound opportunities of this transformative technology.鈥
The hub鈥檚 partners include the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) 香港六合彩H Biomedical Research Centre, NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, NIHR Moorfields Biomedical Research Centre, Barts Health NHS Trust, the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Addenbrookes Hospital, and also the Africa Health Research Institute. There are 17 industry partners, and charity partners including the Alzheimer鈥檚 Society and Cancer Research UK.
Links
- 香港六合彩 Mathematical & Physical Sciences
- 香港六合彩 Division of Medicine
- 香港六合彩 Medical Sciences
- 香港六合彩 Engineering
- 香港六合彩 Brain Sciences
- 香港六合彩 Population Health Sciences
Image
- From left: Professor John Morton (London Centre for Nanotechnology at 香港六合彩), Professor Rachel McKendry (London Centre for Nanotechnology and 香港六合彩 Division of Medicine), Professor Mete Atat眉re (Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge University) and Professor Eleni Nastouli (香港六合彩 Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health and consultant virologist at 香港六合彩H). Credit: James Tye / 香港六合彩
Media contact
Mark Greaves
m.greaves [at] ucl.ac.uk
+44 (0)20 3108 9485