Quantum particles, such as atoms, electrons or photons, are those that are found on extremely small scales (microscopic scale). On this scale, different phenomena occur that differ from how matter behaves on a macroscopic scale, that is, what we can observe with the naked eye. Although the properties and…
Quantum particles, such as atoms, electrons or photons, are those that are found on extremely small scales (microscopic scale). On this scale, different phenomena occur that differ from how matter behaves on a macroscopic scale, that is, what we can observe with the naked eye. Although quantum properties and principles are characteristic of the microscopic scale, they can be applied to the development of multiple technologies used today. In particular, The application of quantum technologies in medicine already has consolidated examples such as lasers or nuclear magnetic resonance (RNM).
The advances made in recent years in this field have allowed the development of new technologies with great potential in the field of health, such as quantum sensors, quantum computing and quantum cryptography. These technologies will allow small variations in substances to be detected and measured with great sensitivity, perform calculations quickly and accurately, and improve the processing and management of large volumes of data. In addition, they will enable the creation of coding and encryption systems that will make communications much more secure than current ones.
In a year in which the United Nations has chosen 2025 as the International Year of Quantum Sciences and Technologies, commemorating the centenary of the discovery of one of the fundamental principles of quantum physics, the Heisenberg uncertainty principle, the Institute Foundation Roche has published a new Anticipating Report on Quantum Technologies in the medicine of the future, prepared by the Observatory of Trends in Future Medicine.
In the words of the managing director of the Roche Institute FoundationConsuelo Martín de Dios, “the possibilities offered by quantum technologies will allow great advances in the field of health research and data security and privacy in an increasingly digitalized health environment, as well as contribute to the implementation of Personalized Precision Medicine by improving the capacity for prediction, prevention, early diagnosis, and development of innovative and personalized treatments”.
In the field of biomedical and clinical research, the application of quantum technologies, and specifically sensors and quantum computing, is expected to have a greater impact. For him coordinator of the report, professor and professor of Theoretical Physics at the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), Dr. Miguel Ángel Martín-Delgado, “Sensors and quantum computing will allow deeper knowledge and a better understanding of diseases and their causes, through the development of new instrumental techniques, in addition to the design of new clinical trial models and the identification of molecular targets and the discovery of medications”.
Quantum sensors, as Dr. Martín-Delgado explains, are extremely sensitive devices capable of detecting minute changes in the environment, which go unnoticed by traditional sensors. For its part, quantum computing is characterized by having a much greater computational potential than classical computing. As Dr. Martín-Delgado indicates, the basic information unit in quantum computing is the qubit, which can exist in multiple states simultaneously (unlike the bit, the unit used in conventional computing), ““which allows us to exponentially increase the information generated and perform multiple calculations in parallel with great precision, allowing the processing of large volumes of data at unprecedented speeds.”
More efficient and economical clinical trials
Quantum technologies have promising applications in molecular target identification and drug discovery. Given the high sensitivity of quantum sensors for the analysis of the chemical composition of samples and precise measurement of microvolumes, they can be applied, for example, in organ-on-a-chipwhich make it possible to generate a biological environment that simulates the natural behavior of human organs and, in this way, study the therapeutic effect of drugs without having to resort to animal models. “The high sensitivity of the sensors, added to the fact that they require very small samples, allow for more efficient and economical clinical trials, improving the quality of the data and accelerating the development of new treatments and medicines.s,” argues Dr. Martín-Delgado.
As for quantum computing, it allows simulating complex molecular interactions, which is crucial for drug design. “Using quantum algorithms, researchers can more quickly identify promising molecules that could function as drugs, reducing the time and cost of pharmaceutical development,” he says.
In the context of clinical practice, the development of new tools and predictive models through the use of quantum computing will open new possibilities in Preventive Medicine and Precision Public Health. This way, “Quantum computing could develop more accurate predictive models for disease prevention, analyzing large volumes of epidemiological and genomic data to predict outbreaks and disseminate preventive measures in time“highlights Dr. Martín-Delgado.
On the other hand, different quantum technologies are being developed to offer more precise and earlier diagnoses. According to the expert, the application of quantum sensors is being developed to detect biomarkers with high sensitivity and specificity. “This could allow earlier diagnoses of diseases such as cancer and infectious diseases,” points out Dr. Martín-Delgado. Likewise, he assures that the application of this technology will mean the ““improvement in imaging techniques such as nuclear magnetic resonance (MRI) through quantum hyperpolarization, which allows obtaining medical images with higher resolution, facilitating the identification and monitoring of diseases in early stages.”