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A major new research hub led by Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê and the University of Cambridge aims to harness quantum technology to improve early diagnosis and treatment of disease.

The hub, called Q-BIOMED, is one of five quantum research hubs announced today by Peter Kyle MP, the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, supported by £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’s 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.

The Q-BIOMED hub brings together researchers from Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê and Cambridge, Oxford, Warwick Cardiff, and Heriot Watt universities, as well as NHS trusts, industry partners and charities.

At Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê alone, the hub involves a wide range of disciplines, with quantum experts, physicists, including Professor Quentin Pankhurst, Dr Benjamin Miller and Professor Geoff Parker from Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê Medical Physics, and chemists working with biomedical researchers, cardiologists, healthcare engineers and neuroscientists, from the Faculties of Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê Medical Sciences, Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê Mathematical & Physical Sciences, Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê Engineering, Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê Brain Sciences and Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê Population Health Sciences.

The hub’s four core flagship programmes are:

• Biomedical imaging:Quantum sensors measuring tiny changes in magnetic fields aim to detect a very early marker of Alzheimer’s disease (disruptions to neural replay) before symptoms occur. This early detection is crucial for new treatments of Alzheimer’s 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: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 interventionsfor 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 capable of analysing single cells and molecules, to help researchers identify mechanisms within cells that could be targeted to prevent disease.

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Find out more about Q-BIOMED here