The University of Chicago has received a $21 million gift from philanthropist Thea Berggren to establish the Berggren Center for Quantum Biology and Medicine. This groundbreaking center will merge quantum engineering with biology to revolutionise medicine, aiming to unlock new insights for diagnostics and therapies
This visionary initiative will combine cutting-edge quantum engineering with biological research, aiming to fundamentally revolutionise the future of medicine and patient care by unlocking unprecedented insights into the human body and disease mechanisms.
This pioneering, interdisciplinary endeavour seeks to leverage the unparalleled sensitivity of quantum engineering, capable of the most precise measurements known to science, to peer inside the human body with never-before-seen detail. The ultimate goal is to uncover biological and disease insights that have previously remained elusive, thereby accelerating the development of novel diagnostics and groundbreaking therapies.
A new frontier in scientific discovery
“The establishment of the Berggren Center reflects a commitment to a powerful idea: that the deepest scientific insights often emerge when we bring distinct disciplines together in bold new ways,” stated President Paul Alivisatos. “Combining quantum engineering with medicine, the work of the Center stands to transform our understanding of health and disease.”
The Berggren Center will be strategically housed within the UChicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering (UChicago PME), drawing upon the University’s world-renowned expertise in quantum science, biomedical research, and clinical care. Nadya Mason, Dean of the UChicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, emphasised the University’s leadership in these fields, adding, “We are deeply grateful to Thea Berggren for her visionary investment in human health.”
Cultivating a new generation of ‘Bilingual Scholars’
The quantum biology and medicine center’s mission is twofold:
- To drive the creation of revolutionary quantum tools for biomedical applications
- To foster a new cohort of “bilingual scholars.”
These future leaders will be proficient in both quantum engineering and biological sciences, equipped to translate quantum advancements directly into clinical solutions. The generous gift will fund fellowships to support these interdisciplinary scholars, provide seed funding for technical development projects, and host international conferences to build a global community around the emerging field of quantum biology and medicine.
UChicago researchers are already at the forefront of this pioneering work. For instance, Assistant Professor of Molecular Engineering Peter Maurer, Professor of Medicine Alexander T. Pearson, and Immunoengineering Professor Aaron Esser-Kahn are collaborating on quantum-enabled identifiers. This innovative technology aims to observe individual immune cells in real-time, with the potential to simultaneously monitor thousands of cells. Such capabilities promise new insights into inflammation and cancer, paving the way for more precise and personalised treatment strategies.
Mark Anderson, Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs and Dean of the UChicago Biological Sciences Division and the Pritzker School of Medicine, highlighted the center’s commitment to translating breakthroughs from “bench to bedside.” He noted that “through innovative training programs, including a quantum-focused pathway for current and future physician-scientists, the Center begins to build a workforce that can continually look for new ways of diagnosing and treating disease.”
Collaborative leadership and visionary funding for quantum biology
The Berggren Center will be co-directed by Greg Engel, a professor at UChicago PME and the Department of Chemistry, and Julian Solway, Professor of Medicine and founding director of the Institute for Translational Medicine. Engel and Solway have a history of collaboration through the NSF Quantum Leap Challenge Institute for Quantum Sensing for Biophysics and Bioengineering (QuBBE), which focuses on developing quantum imaging tools that surpass classical limitations. The new center will build upon this foundation, accelerating the clinical impact of these advancements.
“Fusing quantum physics and medicine is no small feat, but it opens the door to tools and discoveries we never thought possible,” said Engel. Solway added, “The Berggren Center represents the next frontier in translational science. By bringing together quantum physicists, engineers and clinicians, we’re creating a new scientific language with the potential to transform how we understand and treat disease.”
Thea Berggren’s philanthropic commitment encompasses both endowed funds to ensure the center’s long-term sustainability and immediate funding for current support, laying a robust foundation for this ambitious and potentially life-changing scientific endeavour.
