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National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS)

Purpose

This Notice is being provided to inform potential solvers of the  opportunity to compete in the NIH Quantum Biomedical Innovations and Technologies (Qu-BIT) Program prize competitions.

There are second-generation quantum technologies (e.g., sensing, computing) that harness the power of quantum physics and engineered quantum states to enable new modalities that provide disruptive capabilities in sensing and detecting and biological entities, as well as new computational capabilities. These novel technologies offer tremendous opportunities in early disease detection, improving diagnostic approaches, computing on highly complex information much faster.

The National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is announcing two parallel Prize Challenges for the NIH Quantum Biomedical Innovations and Technologies (Qu-BIT) Program to catalyze the application of innovative quantum-enabled sensing and computing approaches for solving various biomedical, translational, and clinical problems through multidisciplinary efforts.

There are two Challenges: 1) quantum sensing and 2) quantum computing. Each challenge will have two stages.  Successful participants will be composed of teams with experts from both quantum sciences and biomedical fields. NIH-NCATS intends to award a total prize purse of up to $1,600,000 across the two stages of the Quantum Sensing Challenge, and up to $1,300,000 across the two stages of Quantum Computing Challenge. Additional information about the planned prize competitions is included below.

Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to contact NIH Program Staff at [email protected] to seek clarification on prize challenges.

Background

Recent progress in quantum information sciences (QIS) and engineering through international efforts have led to new second-generation quantum technologies (i.e., sensing, computing, networking, communications). These technologies use the power of quantum physics and engineered quantum states for novel and improved measurement and computational abilities. Quantum sensing is the most advanced of these technologies; it has several near-term applications in biomedical fields. Quantum computing and algorithms are moving quickly and may be useful for certain biomedical applications.

NCATS plans to further the application of innovative novel quantum-enabled sensing technologies and quantum computing approaches for various biomedical and translational use cases purposes. NCATS has been leading the Quantum Science Technology Working Group at NIH to explore ways to apply quantum technology in the areas of sensing and computing in biomedical fields. This working group has identified several key gaps and opportunities to speed the development and adoption of prototype quantum technologies for real-world applications. NCATS partners with other NIH institutes and centers (National Eye Institute, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, Office of Data Science Strategy, and Center for Information Technology) to address these gaps and spur the application of these technologies to solve problems in clinical and biomedical sciences.

NCATS has also formed the NIH Quantum Information Science and Quantum Sensing in Biology Interest Group. The group hosts seminars and workshops by national and international quantum experts to promote knowledge of quantum technology applications. The workshops also identify opportunities for learning, training, and workforce development in partnership with academia, industry, and government agencies.

Eligibility

Participation in the Quantum Challenges is open to individuals who are citizens or permanent residents of the United States, or private entities that are incorporated in or maintain a primary place of business in the United States. However, non-U.S. citizens and non-permanent residents can participate as a member of a team that otherwise satisfies the eligibility criteria. Non-U.S. citizens and non-permanent residents are not eligible to win a monetary prize (in whole or in part). Their participation as part of a winning team, if applicable, may be recognized when the results are announced. Full eligibility criteria will be available in the challenge announcement. For full details about eligibility requirements, competition rules, detailed judging criteria, and deadlines for submissions, please consult  https://ncats.nih.gov/research/research-activities/quantum. 

Prize Competition Details

1. Quantum Sensing in Biomedical Applications

Atomic-scale quantum sensing technologies provide unmatched sensitivity, precision, accuracy, and resolution to study and measure biological signals and processes. For example, they offer noninvasive detection of ultra-weak biological signals in vivo and in ultra-low sample volumes. They also are used in bioimaging without photodamage and photobleaching. Despite the advances in these technologies, their use in biomedical fields remains narrow and not well explored. Their real-world use requires further optimization, testing, validation, and application for translational impact in health sciences. To address the limitations in technological development and adoption of quantum-enabled sensing technologies to solve translational biomedical problems, NCATS intends to issue the NIH Quantum Sensing Technology Challenge that will bring multi-disciplinary collaborative teams together to propose and develop new biomedical use cases of existing quantum-enabled sensing technologies and to adapt and optimize them for use in biomedical research and clinical settings. The three areas of interest for the current challenge are the following: 

1) Quantum-enabled Sensing Approaches to Advance Biomedical Applications

2) Quantum-enabled Sensing Approaches for Early Detection and Diagnostics

3) Quantum-enabled Sensing and Imaging Devices for Diagnostics and Monitoring

The total prize purse for the Quantum Sensing Challenge will be up to $1,600,000 across two stages.

The entry submission window for the Quantum Sensing Technology Challenge is October 2024 - April 2025. For more information, visit Challenge.gov. 

2. Quantum Computing for Biomedical Applications

Classical computations are limited by binary states, whereas quantum computations rely on multiple quantum states. This difference results in much higher computing speeds. Using mathematical formulations of quantum mechanics, such as entanglement and superposition, new quantum algorithms for improved speed and accuracy of current computations (e.g., simulation, optimization, machine learning) are emerging quickly. The rapid growth of quantum computing and hybrid quantum-classical algorithmic approaches may soon be able to transform certain biomedical use cases. These purposes include molecular simulations, protein and DNA/RNA folding, drug discovery, medical image–based classification and diagnosis and biological sequence analysis. This challenge aims to catalyze the identification of novel biomedical use cases that are amenable to quantum computing-based solutions, including quantum-classical hybrid solutions. The three areas of interest for the current challenge are the following: 

1) Quantum Algorithms for Drug Discovery

2) Quantum Algorithms for Clinical Risk Predictions, Diagnosis, and Therapeutics

3) Quantum Algorithms for Biomedical Imaging and Genomic Data Analysis

The total prize purse for the Quantum Computing Challenge will be up to $1,300,000 across two stages.

The entry submission window for the Quantum Computing Challenge is October 2024 - February 2025. For more information, visit Challenge.gov.

Pre-Submission Inquiries

A technical assistance webinar will be held for potential applicants for the Quantum Computing and Quantum Sensing Challenges in November 2024. NIH staff will be available to answer questions related to the challenges.

If you are interested in registering to participate in the webinar, and/or submitting questions, please send an email to [email protected]. Webinar information will be provided upon request. Potential participants are encouraged to submit questions.

Webinar information will be available and updated at https://ncats.nih.gov/research/research-activities/quantum. The slides and recorded webinar will be available approximately 7 days following the completion of the webinars. Participation in the webinars, although encouraged, is optional and is not required for the submission of an entry.

Inquiries

We strongly encourage interested parties to contact the NIH Program Lead listed below to discuss potential submissions at [email protected].

Program Lead
Geetha Senthil, Ph.D.
National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences