Q-BIOMED Connect: Highlights from our first Hub meeting
Last week, we hosted Q-BIOMED Connect, our first in-person Hub meeting since launch, bringing together researchers, clinicians, and industry partners to strengthen collaborations, share progress, and tackle challenges in quantum sensing for healthcare.
Bringing the Hub together
Day 1 focused on Hub members, starting with presentations from our Research Flagships Leads to outline progress and future plans across our core research themes. With this being the first time the whole Hub had come together since launch, this session helped provide a full overview of our research priorities and identify opportunities for collaboration.
Next, we had a short presentation on our recent Proof-of-Concept funding, during which the second round of funding was announced. Dr Helena Knowles then gave an update on our Future Leaders Programme, highlighting upcoming opportunities for ECRs to help organise events and apply for mobility fellowships.
Dr Sheena Visram introduced our Clinical Steering Group and talked through their priorities for translating quantum sensing technologies into clinical practice, emphasising the importance of early engagement with healthcare professionals.
Members then split into groups based on research areas for interactive discussions. Many conversations centred around technical bottlenecks, shared infrastructure needs, and new areas for collaboration.
To finish the day, Dr Stephen Hughes, Associate Professor in Science, Technology and Society at UCL and one of our Co-Investigators, hosted a workshop on responsible innovation titled ‘Dreams and Nightmares of Quantum Biomedicine: Responsibility and Public Meaning-Making’. This session encouraged participants to reflect on the societal implications of quantum technologies, and how we can communicate our research in a responsible way.
Connecting with the wider quantum-health community
Day 2 welcomed external guests, including members of our external advisory board and some industry collaborators.
The day began with lightning talks from Q-BIOMED ECRs, showcasing some of the latest research developments across the Hub.
Our panel discussion was themed around ‘building a national quantum-health ecosystem’
We then hosted a panel discussion on ‘building a national quantum-health ecosystem’ chaired by Professor Dame Molly Stevens, one of our Co-Directors. Panellists included Faiyaz Amin (DSIT), Dr Sabine Wollmann (Siloton), Dominic Jones (NHS England) and Professor Shervanthi Homer-Vanniasinkam (consultant vascular surgeon at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust). The conversation explored some of the challenges associated with the adoption of quantum technologies in healthcare, how we can better engage with industry, and advice for ECRs in the field.
To close the meeting, Professor Quentin Pankhurst delivered an inspiring keynote on academic entrepreneurship, sharing lessons from his experience of building spin-outs and navigating the challenges of translational research and commercialisation.
Professor Quentin Pankhurst delivered a keynote on academic entrepreneurship
Looking ahead
As a new Hub, this event marked a key milestone in expanding the quantum-health community beyond our members. We look forward to continuing these conversations and building a broader network of partnerships and collaborators as our research progresses.