3 Companies Hope to Advance Health Research in a Quantum Leap

Cleveland Clinic and IBM have embarked on a 10-year quantum computing initiative that allows the health system’s team to work with the tech giant’s full spectrum of computation, including high-performance computing, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML).

And even though this research and application of quantum computing is a long-term effort to explore its potential for facilitating faster diagnoses, developing customized medicines and optimizing data management, the partners are exposing entrepreneurs to the technology.

Three startups recently were named to participate in a 24-week Quantum Innovation Catalyzer Program. The companies will connect with Cleveland Clinic experts and working groups to learn and share best practices and new applications.

The startups also will present their findings to an audience of investors, clinical, corporate and ecosystem partners.

Algorithmiq

One of the companies chosen, Algorithmiq, develops advanced algorithms to solve complex problems in life sciences. The team hopes to develop its proprietary Aurora software to improve the field’s understanding of photon-drug interactions. By understanding these interactions, researchers can improve cancer treatments, disease prevention and medical imaging.

Picture Health

Picture Health, meanwhile, specializes in AI diagnostics tailored for oncologists. The team will use quantum parallel processing to enhance medical image processing with a focus on digital pathology and high-resolution histology. This will lay the groundwork for cancer researchers to explore novel biomarkers and gain a better understanding of complex biological structures within medical data.

Qradle

The final company chosen, Qradle Inc., provides quantum software used to make drug discoveries. The team plans to develop a group of programs that will work together to aid drug-discovery research. This includes a classical computing-to-quantum computing conversion tool that can leverage existing classical AI/ML solutions for drug discoveries.