Researchers from the University of Nottingham, Phasecraft, and QuEra Computing Inc. have received over $1 million from Wellcome Leap to explore quantum computing for drug development for myotonic dystrophy. The project, led by Jonathan Hirst, Katie Inzani, and Ashley Montanaro, aims to use quantum computing to model systems where quantum mechanics plays a key role, such as in drug discovery. Phasecraft, a startup based in Bristol and London, will apply its research in quantum algorithms to this process. The quantum computing hardware for the project has been built by QuEra Computing Inc., a leading provider of quantum computers based on neutral atoms.
Quantum Computing in Drug Development for Myotonic Dystrophy
This project is one of 12 worldwide to receive funding from the Wellcome Leap $50 million support program Quantum for Bio, which aims to expedite the application of quantum computing to address urgent human health challenges.
The project, titled “Quantum computing for covalent inhibitors in drug discovery,” is led by Jonathan Hirst and Katie Inzani from the University of Nottingham and Ashley Montanaro, co-founder of Phasecraft. The team combines human health sciences and computational chemistry expertise to quantum algorithm development and quantum hardware.
Quantum computers, which utilise the unique properties of quantum systems for information processing, can solve problems that are not feasible using today’s conventional computers. One of the most promising applications of near-term quantum computers is accurately modelling systems where quantum mechanics plays a key role, such as in materials science, chemistry, and drug discovery.
The Challenge of Drug Discovery for Myotonic Dystrophy
The discovery of new drugs has consistently been one of the most challenging tasks facing medical innovation, pushing the capabilities of current modelling tools to their limits. This project aims to demonstrate how the combined power of quantum computing and classical simulation methods can be harnessed to tackle the crucial task of drug discovery for myotonic dystrophy.
Myotonic dystrophy is a genetic condition that causes progressive muscle weakness and wasting. It often affects the heart’s electrical conduction system, breathing and swallowing muscles, bowels, lens of the eye, and brain. It is the most common muscular dystrophy worldwide, affecting an estimated 6,500 people in the UK and around 3.6 million globally. As an inherited disease, myotonic dystrophy symptoms usually become more severe with each generation, with onset typically occurring after age 40. Currently, there are no treatments for the condition.
Phasecraft’s Role in Quantum Algorithm Development
Phasecraft, a startup based in Bristol and London, will apply its research in quantum algorithms to develop algorithms that can harness the advancements made in quantum computing to aid further drug discovery for myotonic dystrophy. Since its inception in 2019 as a spinout from UCL and the University of Bristol, the team has developed record-breaking algorithms with significantly superior computational efficiency compared to others in existence. It is currently focused on developing quantum algorithms to the point of practical quantum advantage – when quantum computers outperform classical computers for useful real-world applications, such as drug discovery.
QuEra’s Quantum Computing Hardware
The quantum computing hardware for the project has been built by QuEra Computing Inc., a provider of quantum computers based on neutral atoms. Based in Boston, USA, the company was founded on pioneering research at Harvard University and MIT. QuEra is building scalable quantum computers to tackle useful but classically intractable problems for commercially relevant applications.
The Potential Impact of Quantum Computing on Drug Discovery
The potential of quantum computing to solve previously intractable problems is significant, and drug discovery is one of the most exciting applications for this technology. The collaboration between the University of Nottingham, Phasecraft, and QuEra aims to use large-scale quantum computers to help address myotonic dystrophy. The project ultimately aims to show how the emerging area of quantum computing could have real-world impact in treating disease.
Jonathan Hirst, a Royal Academy of Engineering Chair in Emerging Technologies and Professor of Computational Chemistry at the University of Nottingham, says, “I am thrilled to be spearheading this exciting project that ultimately aims to show how the emerging area of quantum computing could have real-world impact in treating disease.”
Katie Inzani, who holds an EPSRC Quantum Technology Career Development Fellowship and is an Assistant Professor in the School of Chemistry at the University of Nottingham, says, “We have brought together a multi-disciplinary, multi-organisational team which will adopt a novel collaborative approach to research that is grounded on innovation across all stages of the drug discovery process.”
Ashley Montanaro, co-founder and CEO of Phasecraft, says, “We’re working hard to get to the point where quantum computing can outperform classical computers for real, practical problems and drug discovery may be one of the areas where this technology could have a significant impact. Our quantum algorithms for simulating quantum systems have already shown remarkable speedups over previous work, and we’re excited to be applying these ideas to human health in collaboration with an outstanding team and using a world-class quantum hardware platform.”
Alex Keesling, CEO of QuEra, said: “Quantum computers have the potential to solve previously intractable problems, and drug discovery is one of the most exciting applications for this technology. We are delighted to partner with the University of Nottingham and Phasecraft and use our large-scale quantum computers to help address myotonic dystrophy.”
Summary
Researchers from the University of Nottingham, Phasecraft, and QuEra Computing Inc. have secured over $1 million in funding to explore quantum computing in developing new drugs for myotonic dystrophy, a genetic condition causing progressive muscle weakness. The project aims to utilise the unique properties of quantum systems to model and solve problems in drug discovery that are currently unmanageable with conventional computers.
- A research team from the University of Nottingham, Phasecraft, and QuEra Computing Inc. have been awarded over $1 million from Wellcome Leap to explore using quantum computing in drug development for myotonic dystrophy.
- The project, “Quantum computing for covalent inhibitors in drug discovery”, is led by Jonathan Hirst and Katie Inzani from the University of Nottingham and Ashley Montanaro, co-founder of Phasecraft.
- Quantum computers, which exploit the unique properties of quantum systems for information processing, can solve problems that are not tractable using today’s conventional computers. This makes them promising for accurately modelling systems where quantum mechanics plays a key role, such as in drug discovery.
- Myotonic dystrophy is a genetic condition that causes progressive muscle weakness and wasting. It is the most frequent muscular dystrophy worldwide, affecting an estimated 6,500 people in the UK and around 3.6 million globally. No treatments currently exist for the condition.
- Phasecraft, a Bristol and London-based startup, will apply its research in quantum algorithms to developing algorithms that can harness the developments made in quantum computing to help further drug discovery for the condition.
- The quantum computing hardware for the project has been built by QuEra Computing Inc., a leading provider of quantum computers based on neutral atoms.