Department of Radiology - Medical Physics

QUANTUM-PRECISION is a cross-border research and innovation project funded to develop and validate a quantum-enhanced MRI platform for the early detection and characterization of cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. By combining expertise from leading academic, clinical, and industrial partners in Germany, France, and Switzerland, the project aims to strengthen the Upper Rhine region as a hub for quantum-enabled healthcare innovation.

Current imaging methods often fail to detect early metabolic changes associated with diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. QUANTUM-PRECISION addresses this challenge through the development of a novel hyperpolarized MRI demonstrator based on SABRE technology. By significantly amplifying molecular signals, hyperpolarized MRI enables highly sensitive, non-invasive imaging of metabolic processes in real time.

The consortium includes the University Medical Center Freiburg, the University of Strasbourg and its associated clinical centers, NVision Imaging Technologies, Qnami AG, the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), HQS Quantum Simulations GmbH, and additional clinical and research partners. Together, they will develop the technology, validate it in preclinical studies, and compare its performance with established imaging approaches such as PET and existing hyperpolarization platforms.

The project focuses on applications in oncology and neurodegenerative diseases, using quantum-enhanced MRI and ^13C-labelled metabolic probes to investigate disease-related metabolic alterations. The resulting technology has the potential to support earlier diagnosis, improve treatment monitoring, and enable more personalized therapeutic decisions.

Through its strong translational focus and close collaboration between research institutions, hospitals, and industry, QUANTUM-PRECISION will accelerate the path from technological innovation to clinical application, generating lasting scientific, economic, and societal benefits for the Upper Rhine region and beyond.