How Can Quantum Sensors Build Better Health? Report Details Potential, Challenges of Quantum Sensors For Biomedical Applications

Insider Brief

• Quantum sensors, with their unprecedented sensitivity, offer transformative potential for medical diagnostics, including early detection of diseases like Alzheimer’s, real-time microbiome analysis, and non-invasive fetal monitoring, according to a report from the Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C).
• Unlike traditional medical devices, quantum sensors like optically pumped magnetometers are portable, cost-effective, and operate at room temperature, making advanced diagnostics more accessible and practical.
• To overcome commercialization barriers such as FDA approval and limited interdisciplinary collaboration, the report recommends establishing shared testbeds, prioritizing biomedical funding, and fostering partnerships between sensor developers, clinicians, and policymakers.

Quantum sensors, a cutting-edge technology capable of detecting subtle signals from the human body, could soon transform how diseases are diagnosed and monitored, according to a report from the Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C).

The report outlines how quantum sensing tools — ranging from diamond-based detectors to optically pumped magnetometers — offer unprecedented sensitivity compared to traditional medical devices. These sensors could enable earlier diagnoses for diseases like Alzheimer’s, provide better imaging of fetal development, and even analyze the microbiome in real time.

“Improved sensors could impact diverse aspects of biomedicine,” the report states. “For example, quantum sensors offer the possibility of significantly more efficient and accurate medical diagnoses for patients, thanks to their increased sensitivity and novel options for form factor. These attributes could enable quantum sensors to collect vast amounts of data about patients and medical conditions, and thus facilitate drug and treatment development and earlier diagnosis of disease. The advantages of quantum sensors encourage new ideas about solutions, quantum use cases, and business models across the biomedical industry — from prenatal care to cancer detection and treatment.”

Clear Advantages Over Traditional Tools

Traditional medical devices, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines, are bulky, expensive and sometimes invasive, according to the report. Superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs), for example, require ultra-low temperatures and large magnetic shielding, limiting their flexibility. Quantum sensors like optically pumped magnetometers (OPMs), on the other hand, can operate at room temperature, reducing costs and increasing portability. The report also covers the potential for these sensors to be used in wearable devices or compact imaging systems.

One promising application is magnetoencephalography (MEG) for brain imaging. Unlike SQUID-based systems, OPM-MEG technology uses lasers to measure weak magnetic fields produced by the brain. This could aid in diagnosing epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease, and traumatic brain injuries. OPM-MEG systems are also non-invasive and more comfortable for patients, making them particularly suitable for studying brain activity in children.

Barriers to Commercialization

Despite their potential, bringing quantum sensors to clinics and hospitals faces significant challenges. The report emphasizes the need for more collaboration between sensor developers, clinicians, and policymakers. To ensure that the sensors developed are practical and useful, developers must be aware of the unique needs of clinicians, the authors suggest, indicating a need for interdisciplinary teams to secure federally funded projects.

Regulatory hurdles also present obstacles. The timeline for obtaining Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for a new medical device often spans years. Developers must also secure buy-in from insurance companies to ensure new technologies are reimbursable. These barriers, coupled with limited funding focused on healthcare applications, slow the path to commercialization.

High-Impact Use Cases

The study identifies several high-impact applications for quantum sensors, such as subcellular imaging, maternal and fetal monitoring, and systemic disease detection. Fetal magnetocardiography (fMCG), for instance, could precisely monitor fetal heart rhythms, helping to detect conditions like arrhythmias that are currently difficult to diagnose with ultrasound alone.

Siamond-based quantum sensors could similarly impact cancer research by allowing researchers to measure temperature and magnetic field changes at the cellular level. This could provide insights into tumor behavior and drug efficacy, for example.

Quantum sensors might also enable real-time microbiome analysis, which could improve public health surveillance or help doctors personalize treatments for patients.

Recommendations for Scaling Adoption

To overcome these challenges, the report offers several recommendations. One recommendation addresses the lack of accessible testbeds for quantum sensors hinders innovation, particularly for small startups. Establishing shared facilities at national labs or universities could promote interdisciplinary research and reduce costs, enabling physicists, biologists, and engineers to work alongside clinicians to refine sensor designs. These labs could help identify the advantages of quantum sensors over classical counterparts, accelerating their path to commercialization.

Funding priorities should also shift toward high-feasibility biomedical projects, the authors argue. For example, developing robust, cost-effective OPM systems could make advanced brain imaging available to more hospitals and research centers.

The report also calls for federal agencies, like the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to create opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration. This could include requiring teams to involve both sensor developers and healthcare professionals in grant proposals.

Federal funding agencies like the NIH and NSF could require multidisciplinary teams for grant proposals, fostering early collaboration between researchers and clinicians. This approach could reduce resistance to adopting new technology in the healthcare industry, as clinicians involved in development would better understand the sensors’ benefits.

The report also highlights the importance of targeted funding for high-impact biomedical applications. Investment in technologies like optically pumped magnetometers (OPMs) for brain and fetal imaging could drive innovations in healthcare. Supporting small businesses focused on quantum sensors could foster partnerships and multidisciplinary teams, ensuring these cutting-edge tools address real-world medical challenges.

The analysts add that quantum sensor developers actively engage with end users by participating in medical conferences and hosting special sessions at events like those organized by the American Medical Association.

The Road Ahead

While the potential applications of quantum sensors are vast, realizing them will take years. Many technologies remain in the proof-of-concept phase, and their development requires substantial investment. However, the payoff could be transformative, offering better medical outcomes and reducing healthcare costs.

The report concludes that quantum sensors could “significantly impact the biomedical industry,” but achieving this will require collaboration across science, industry and policy. With the right investments and partnerships, the promise of quantum sensing in medicine could soon become a reality, the report suggests.

For a deeper dive and more thorough technical explanation, please read the report here.