Cleveland Clinic makes quantum computing available to startups
A new accelerator program offered by Cleveland Clinic could help early and growth-stage healthcare innovation companies access the massively powerful data and analytics insights promised by the new quantum computer, billed as the first such machine dedicated to research in health care.
Through the Clinic Quantum Innovation Catalyzer Program, these startups can also collaborate with Cleveland Clinic researchers and researchers and participate in the Quantum Working Group on Healthcare and Life Sciences, created in partnership with IBM Quantum.
WHY IT MATTERS
Cleveland Clinic launched the program to further collaboration with the Cleveland Clinic-IBM Discovery Accelerator, the technology base of biomedical research of the Cleveland Innovation District, according to Friday’s announcement.
The State of Ohio, JobsOhio and Cleveland’s healthcare and higher education institutions formed the district to create jobs, accelerate research and train the future workforce.
“Through the Discovery Accelerator, Cleveland Clinic and our partners at IBM are exploring the enormous potential of quantum computing to transform medicine, from drug discovery to digital health and biomarker analysis,” said Dr. Lara Jehi, Cleveland Clinic’s Chief Research Information Officer, said in a statement. .
The program is intended for people building quantum computing algorithms and exploring the utility of quantum computing for computational biomedicine to “address some of the most intractable problems in healthcare,” according to Cleveland Clinic’s Office of Research Development in the United States States. description of the competition programme.
In addition to access to Cleveland Clinic’s IBM quantum computer and opportunities to discuss research ideas and projects with physicians and researchers, select startups can benefit from technical seminars, healthcare programs and quantum education.
At the end of the program, Cleveland Clinic said it would host a demo day showcasing the cohort of startups to a curated audience of investors and clinical, corporate and ecosystem partners.
Proposals are due by January 15, 2024, and teams will be selected on March 15.
THE BIG TREND
In March, Cleveland Clinic and IBM announced the first quantum computer dedicated to healthcare research. Cleveland Clinic plans to use System One’s computing power to accelerate biomedical discoveries across a range of clinical and pharmaceutical needs as part of its 10-year agreement with IBM.
Near-term prospects for quantum computing in healthcare and medicine include analysis of genomic sequences, virtual screening in drug discovery, medical image classification, disease risk prediction and adaptive radiotherapy, according to Frederik Flöther, head of quantum and deputy CEO at QuantumBasel , uptownBasel Infinity Corp. .
He told Healthcare IT news in April that healthcare IT leaders should also explore quantum-safe data security solutions.
“It is imperative that organizations, especially those dealing with sensitive data that must be kept secure for a long period of time (as is common in the medical space), begin developing roadmaps for the transition to quantum-safe cryptographic standards.”
ON THE RECORD
“We look forward to welcoming the first class of startups to our new Cleveland Clinic Quantum Innovation Catalyzer Program and helping them use quantum to achieve healthcare breakthroughs as we build an ecosystem of advanced computing for healthcare and life sciences grow,” says Jehi. in the announcement.
Andrea Fox is editor-in-chief of Healthcare IT News.
Email: afox@himss.org
Healthcare IT News is a HIMSS Media publication.