QUANTUM-PRECISION

Severe diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer’s often begin with subtle changes in cellular metabolism, long before the first symptoms appear. Conventional imaging techniques reach their limits here, as they are generally unable to visualize this early molecular stage. The QUANTUM-PRECISION project is dedicated to addressing this challenge: Researchers are developing a new type of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) designed to visualize disease-specific metabolic processes with greater sensitivity. The overarching goal is to improve the accuracy of diagnoses for cancer and Alzheimer’s disease and, in the long term, to better support personalized therapies.

At the core of QUANTUM-PRECISION is the use of hyperpolarization, a quantum technology-based method. In this process, metabolic molecules are placed outside the body into a state that emits a significantly amplified MRI signal. After injection, researchers can track how these molecules are processed within the body. In this way, patterns such as increased lactate production in tumor cells or disturbances in energy metabolism in Alzheimer’s disease can be visualized—processes that remain invisible to conventional MRI.

The Eucor universities involved in the project are the University of Freiburg and the University of Strasbourg. The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, the University of Basel spin-off QNami, and the German Cancer Research Center are also participating as associated partners. QUANTUM-PRECISION is part of the Science Offensive of the Trinational Upper Rhine Metropolitan Region and is co-funded by the European Union (Interreg Upper Rhine program) as well as the regional ministries in Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate, and the Grand Est region.