Quantum Computing and Healthcare: Learn more about these Applications

What is Quantum Computing?

The journey of quantum computing begins in 1981, with Richard Feynman the most famous physicist of his time. Feynman at a conference on physics and computation at Massachusetts Institute of Tech­nology asked, “Can we simulate physics on a computer?”. He was ahead of his time and stated “If we cannot simulate quantum physics on a computer, maybe we can build a quantum mechanical computer—which would be better than ordinary computers?”

As a result, the path for quantum computing was laid out. Moreover, the end result of this path leads to the usage of basic quantum mechanics principles in computer science.

That is to say, Quantum Computing channels the potential of Quantum Mechanics to execute computationally tasks and provide resolutions. Moreover, the “Quantum” in quantum computing refers to quantum mechanics that help the system calculate outputs.

However, in physics, a quantum is the smallest unit of any physical property. Further, it indicates the properties of atomic and subatomic particles like electrons, neutrinos, and photons.

Quantum Computers certainly work toward applying the unique characteristics of quantum physics. Moreover, characteristics like superposition, entanglement, and quantum interference are harnessed into computing. It also initiates new concepts for traditional programming techniques.

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Types of Quantum Computers

• Quantum Annealer:

It is the least powerful and most restrictive form of quantum computing. It is the simplest one to build but it can only execute a single function. Moreover, a scientific consensus from the community states that it possesses no advantage over traditional computing.

• Analog Quantum:

Analog Quantum computer enables simulation of complex quantum interactions of any traditional devices or a combination of the devices. It may also contain around 50-100 qubits. Moreover, it is faster than a traditional system and has a higher computational power. 

• Universal Quantum:

This type of quantum computer is the most powerful, general, and the hardest to build. It also poses various technical challenges. Further, the current estimates value this machine will incorporate more than 100,000 physical qubits.

How does Quantum Computing work?

A quantum computer includes these significant components:

• An area that comprises qubits or quantum bits (the basic unit of information in quantum computing).
• A technique to transfer signals to qubits.
• A traditional computer to execute programs and send commands.

As a result, the above components help store information into qubits in quantum form.

According to Utpal Chakraborty, Head of Artificial Intelligence at YES Bank, AI Researcher, “Quantum computing along with AI is revolutionizing almost all different vertices of healthcare and medicine including clinical imaging, diagnosis, and personalized treatment, drug research are just a few examples. The impact that quantum computing could be very significant and could potentially solve many of the unsolved in this field.”

Quantum Computing and Healthcare Applications

• Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy is a widely-used treatment for cancer. Moreover, it uses radiation helps destroy cancerous cells or cease them from multiplying. It is also crucial to devise a radiation plan to reduce the damage to healthy tissues and body parts. 

It also deals with complex optimization problems with thousands of variables. Therefore, reaching the optimal radiation plan needs multiple simulations until an optimal solution is acquired.

Hence, with quantum computing the range of possibilities that are considered between each simulation is broad. As a result, it allows healthcare professionals to execute numerous simulations simultaneously and develop an optimal plan.

• Drug Research and Interactions

The initial and pivotal phase of a drug design and discovery is molecular comparison. Now, organizations can perform millions of comparisons on traditional computers. Although, there is a limitation on the size of molecules that traditional computers can compute.

Hence, Quantum Computing can help compare molecules that are larger in size. Therefore, it will pave the way for more pharmaceutical advancements and cures for various diseases.

Moreover, Quantum Computing enables healthcare professionals to model complicated molecular interactions at an atomic stage. Hence, it will play a major role in medical research and drug discovery. As a result, professionals will soon be able to model all 20000 proteins in a human genome. It will also begin to simulate interactions with models of existing and new drugs.

• Healthcare Data

Patients want to secure and safeguard their medical and healthcare data. Hence, it is pivotal to examine and assess all the techniques of hacking.

For example, ID Quantique is a firm that uses components of quantum mechanics to secure data. Therefore, using quantum entanglement is one of the more practical applications and quantum cryptography safeguards the data.

• Genomics

Genomics refers to the study of complete genetic components of an organism. That is to say, it incorporates, recombinant DNA, DNA sequencing methods, and bioinformatics. Moreover, it requires sequencing, assembling, and analyzing of the structures and functions of genomes.

Further, the latest techniques involve dividing the DNA into small components. It also includes the search for certain types of biomarkers and any disease-related mutations.

As a result, this comes down to two major repercussions that need addressing. Firstly, the process is too time-consuming. Secondly, it becomes slower with only manual operations involve. Hence, traditional computers are not dynamic enough for the tasks.

Therefore, Quantum Computing is the right way to go forward as it has more computational power and storage capacity. Moreover, the outcomes will be more accurate to help provide correct diagnoses and personalized medications.

Further, it will enable professionals to create a database of genomes to discover unknown biomarkers and mutations. It will also revolutionize the treatment by considering various factors like environment or lifestyle.

• Improving Imaging Solutions

Quantum Imaging devices help create highly accurate images that enable the visualization of single molecules. Further, Machine Learning and Quantum Computing help physicians and professionals to interpret the results.

Moreover, machine learning helps identify abnormalities in the body and quantum computing provides the interpretation of the results and its treatments.

Although, traditional MRIs help detect areas of light and dark, and the radiologist needs to evaluate them. Hence, quantum imaging tools help differentiate among tissue types to enable more precise imaging.