Over 120 scientists, industry leaders, and innovators from around the globe recently convened for the inaugural Quantum Biology Forum, an event supported by Martine Rothblatt, PhD, CEO of United Therapeutics, signaling a growing interest in the intersection of quantum mechanics and medicine. Hosted by Northwell Health April 13-14 at United Therapeutics headquarters, the forum explored quantum effects as potential intervention targets for serious diseases like Alzheimer’s, cancer, and ALS. “This isn’t science fiction; it’s the biological physics of life,” said Dr. Lance B. Becker, program director of the forum, emphasizing a shift away from viewing the body as simply a “chemical machine.” Northwell Health President and CEO John D’Angelo added that the forum marked a significant moment in medical science, encouraging collaboration to understand life at its core and improve treatments.
Northwell & United Therapeutics Launch Quantum Biology Forum
Attracting over 120 scientists, industry leaders, and innovators from across the globe, the event signaled a broadening acceptance of the idea that quantum mechanics plays a fundamental role in biological processes, moving beyond conventional biochemical explanations of life. This gathering brought together scientists and industry leaders to explore how phenomena like electron transfer and bioelectric fields influence health and disease. Northwell Health’s commitment to this area of research is exemplified by the forum’s program direction under Lance B. Becker, MD, who also leads work in mitochondria transplantation at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research. Traditionally understood as cellular powerhouses, Dr. Becker’s lab is investigating mitochondria’s more complex, quantum-informed role in energy production, with potential clinical applications for conditions like heart disease, brain diseases, and cardiac arrest. Becker served as program director of Northwell’s Quantum Biology Forum.
The forum’s discussions highlighted that the body’s intricate energy systems and its interaction with light play a more fundamental role in health and disease than previously understood, offering novel intervention targets for serious illnesses, including Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, and ALS. United Therapeutics, with financial backing from Martine Rothblatt, PhD, CEO, supported the event, demonstrating a willingness from a major pharmaceutical company to invest in a largely unexplored area of medical science. John D’Angelo, MD, president and CEO of Northwell, emphasized the collaborative spirit of the forum, stating that it was “a call for collaboration, compelling scientists to move beyond traditional views of biology.”
Mitochondrial Transplantation: Leveraging Cellular Energy Mechanisms
Recent investigations are revealing mitochondria’s role extends beyond conventional understandings of cellular respiration into quantum-informed energy transfer, prompting interest in mitochondrial transplantation as a therapeutic strategy. Over 120 scientists, industry leaders, and innovators convened at Northwell Health’s Quantum Biology Forum to discuss these emerging concepts and their potential to reshape medical interventions. Discussions at the forum highlighted that mitochondrial transplantation, spearheaded by Dr. Becker and his lab at Northwell’s Feinstein Institutes, is being explored for clinical use in conditions like heart disease, brain diseases, and cardiac arrest. Researchers now recognize mitochondria’s involvement in more complex energy processes; this nuanced understanding is driving the advancement of transplantation techniques. Douglas Wallace, PhD, from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, discussed the current state of mitochondrial transplantation, while others, such as Praveen Arany, PhD, from the University at Buffalo, presented complementary fields like photo-biomodulation.
This Forum, brought to life by the leadership of Drs. Becker and Rothblatt, marks a special moment in medical science.
John D’Angelo, MD, president and CEO of Northwell
Bioelectronic Medicine & Feinstein Institutes Research Focus
Discussions highlighted that the body’s intricate energy systems and its interaction with light play a more fundamental role in health and disease than previously understood. Instead of solely focusing on molecular interactions, quantum biology explores how phenomena like electron transfer, energy coherence, and bioelectric fields drive life itself, offering novel targets for intervention in ailments ranging from Alzheimer’s disease and cancer to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and more. Northwell Health’s Institute of Bioelectronic Medicine, through the work of Lance B. Becker, MD, is actively investigating mitochondria’s role beyond simply being “cellular powerhouses.” Dr.
This work charts a course to better understand how life works at its core, ultimately leading to improved treatments and cures.
John D’Angelo, MD, president and CEO of Northwell
