Quantum Sensors Uncover the Mystery of Immune Cell Failure Against Cancer
A groundbreaking £2 million funding has been awarded to a Heriot-Watt University researcher, Dr. Aldona Mzyk, to develop quantum sensors that can observe immune cells in action during their battle against cancer. This innovative project aims to shed light on the reasons behind the variability in treatment outcomes among patients, offering a unique perspective on why some treatments succeed while others fail.
Dr. Mzyk's research will create sensors capable of detecting signals from a single electron, providing real-time insights into molecular changes as immune cells navigate the challenging environment of a solid tumour. These ultra-sensitive devices will monitor the metabolic breakdown that exhausts and impairs the effectiveness of cancer-fighting cells, detecting variations far smaller than the width of a human hair.
The project addresses a critical challenge in cancer immunotherapy, particularly with CAR-T therapies, which have shown promise in treating blood cancers but struggle with solid tumours. Cancer tissue releases metabolites that disrupt the metabolism of engineered immune cells, leading to their ineffectiveness. Dr. Mzyk's quantum platform will provide immediate insights into this failure mechanism, observing the chemical sabotage within thousands of cells in just seconds.
Based at DTU in Copenhagen, Dr. Mzyk will join Heriot-Watt's Institute of Photonics and Quantum Sciences to lead the four-year Future Leaders Fellowship, funded by UK Research and Innovation. She emphasizes the urgency of understanding immune cell failure, noting that 17 people die from cancer every minute. By monitoring free radicals that drive metabolic processes, the project aims to 'eavesdrop' on the interactions between immune cells and cancer, a task previously hindered by the limitations of traditional sensors.
The project's approach combines quantum sensing with optical spectroscopy and microfluidics, creating a comprehensive platform that could revolutionize personalized treatment development and provide early indications of anti-cancer drug efficacy. It aligns with the UK's National Quantum Technology Programme and the integration of clinical-grade quantum technologies into the NHS.
Professor Cristian Bonato, Principal Investigator for the Nanoscale Quantum Sensing facility at Heriot-Watt, highlights the potential of this fellowship to transform biomedical diagnostics, aligning with the university's involvement in various national quantum hubs focused on sensing, imaging, and healthcare.
For more information, visit https://ilmt.co/PL/dVzB.
