The Novo Nordisk Foundation has granted DKK 150 million to establish the Copenhagen Center for Biomedical Quantum Sensing. The center, a collaboration between the University of Copenhagen, the Technical University of Denmark, and the University of Texas at Austin, aims to advance quantum sensing for early disease detection. Quantum sensing can measure small changes in motion and electric and magnetic fields, enabling the detection of faint signals within the body. Lene Oddershede, Senior Vice President of the Novo Nordisk Foundation, and Eugene Polzik, Professor at the Niels Bohr Institute, are key figures in the project.
Quantum Sensing: A New Frontier in Disease Diagnosis and Prevention
Quantum sensing, a technology that leverages the principles of quantum physics, is poised to revolutionize the field of biomedical and health sciences. The technology’s unprecedented precision could significantly enhance disease diagnosis and prevention. The Copenhagen Center for Biomedical Quantum Sensing, a new research center funded by a DKK 150 million grant from the Novo Nordisk Foundation, is set to explore the potential of quantum sensing in detecting diseases at their earliest stages.
Many diseases, including metabolic disorders, nutritional deficiencies, cardiovascular conditions, and brain diseases, are challenging to diagnose in their early stages due to the lack of noticeable symptoms. However, early detection is crucial for effective treatment. Quantum sensing technology could provide a solution to this problem by detecting minute changes in motion and electric and magnetic fields, which are often indicative of underlying health conditions.
Quantum Sensing: A Leap Beyond Classical Sensors
Quantum sensing technology surpasses the capabilities of classical sensors by detecting faint signals deep within the body, such as weak electromagnetic impulses from nerves, the heart, or the brain. These signals can provide valuable information for early disease detection and prevention. The Copenhagen Center for Biomedical Quantum Sensing, a collaborative effort involving researchers from the University of Copenhagen, the Technical University of Denmark, and the University of Texas at Austin, aims to further develop quantum sensing and imaging technologies for use in medical diagnostics and healthcare.
Quantum sensing is one of the most advanced quantum technologies and has the potential to significantly improve medical diagnostics. The primary goal of the research collaboration is to develop quantum sensing principles and techniques that can operate near and beyond standard quantum limits of sensitivity. This would provide ultra-sensitive platforms for early disease detection and facilitate in-depth investigations into cellular systems at an unprecedented scale and precision.
Quantum Sensing in Disease Prevention
Researchers at the University of Copenhagen are focusing on developing highly sensitive sensors that could potentially outperform current methods for disease detection. The team aims to exploit fundamental concepts of quantum physics, such as quantum superpositions and entanglement, to develop sensors with sensitivity exceeding standard quantum limits. These quantum sensors could aid in the early detection and prevention of diseases.
In collaboration with hospitals and biomedical experts, the researchers aim to develop novel atomic and quantum-enabled methods to address urgent health problems. These include early diagnosis of heart and brain anomalies, detecting metabolic changes in the body, preventing malnutrition, nerve degeneration, and assessing the response to antibiotics.
Quantum Sensing: A Tool for Global Health Challenges
Mark Raizen, Professor of Physics and Pediatrics at the University of Texas at Austin, is focusing on research related to the global fight against iron deficiency, a condition that affects about half of all children worldwide and can have devastating effects on lifelong brain function. A new highly accurate test for assessing the uptake of iron supplements by infants and toddlers has been developed at the University but is currently too expensive and requires too large a blood sample for widespread use.
The team aims to make this fundamental science affordable and work with smaller samples, so it can have a significant impact on society. Another goal is to use quantum sensing technologies to develop more efficient and reliable ways to diagnose serious medical conditions such as chronic kidney disease by investigating new potential sensitive biomarkers.
Quantum Sensing: Future Directions and Applications
At the Technical University of Denmark, researchers are working on experimental optical and solid-state physics with applications in quantum sensing and quantum information processing. The team is focusing on developing innovative quantum sensors based on color centers in diamond and on entangled quantum light. Such a quantum microscope could enable the investigation of biological systems with unprecedented accuracy.
The Novo Nordisk Foundation has recently made substantial investments in quantum technologies, including funding for the Novo Nordisk Foundation Quantum Computing Programme and Quantum Foundry Copenhagen P/S. The international quantum sensing research collaboration will consolidate and significantly strengthen the quantum sensing activities in Denmark, fostering international synergy and promoting translation into clinical applications. The Copenhagen Center for Biomedical Quantum Sensing is being funded in the first phase by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, and phase 2 funding will be sought in partnership with the Pointsman Foundation, an independent non-profit foundation based in Austin, Texas.
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