“It’s been proven that trained dogs can smell melanoma,” Raizen notes, suggesting the potential for a scalable, automated diagnostic tool.
The lab’s work extends beyond melanoma detection, exploring the broader application of quantum sensing to diagnose chronic kidney disease and refine the use of medical isotopes for disease detection and treatment.
“We can trap individual ions and measure their clock frequency and see if it changes as they head toward decay,” Raizen details, envisioning a deeper understanding of quantum phenomena.
“There is potential for a cure for cancer,” Raizen states, highlighting the ambitious scope of the research.
By observing the subtle shifts in the atom’s clock frequency during decay, researchers hope to gain insights into the quantum processes governing this fundamental transformation.
Researchers at The University of Texas at Austin are applying the principles of quantum mechanics to disease detection, with a newly established international collaboration signaling a significant investment in the field. Mark Raizen’s lab is exploring how to harness the sensitivity of quantum sensing, measuring at the scale of individual atoms, to identify diseases like melanoma through surprising methods, including the development of an electronic “nose” capable of detecting skin odor. “There are still things about quantum mechanics that we don’t understand,” said Raizen, professor of physics and pediatrics, “And once you understand them, who knows what becomes possible?” This work is supported by nearly $22 million in funding for the Copenhagen Center for Biomedical Quantum Sensing, where Raizen is co-principal investigator, and extends to developing radioisotopes precise enough to target and destroy individual cancer cells.
Quantum Sensing Detects Melanoma via Volatile Organic Compounds
A sensitive application of quantum physics is emerging as a potential tool in the fight against melanoma; researchers are developing a device capable of detecting the disease through skin odor. Raizen explains the core principle: “Quantum sensing reaches the sensitivity of counting atoms or counting photons — you’re really limited by the discreteness of the particles that you’re measuring.” The team is focused on replicating the remarkable ability of trained canines to detect melanoma through scent. “It’s been proven that trained dogs can smell melanoma,” Raizen notes, suggesting the potential for a scalable, automated diagnostic tool.
Unlike dogs, the envisioned electronic nose promises consistent performance. “The prediction we have—which I think is realistic—is that the electronic nose could be more sensitive than any dog. Plus, dogs get tired.” The device would function by analyzing a patient’s skin odor using an activated charcoal filter, identifying a specific “cocktail of volatile organic compounds” indicative of the presence of cancer. This non-invasive method offers a potentially early detection pathway for melanoma, a disease where early intervention dramatically improves outcomes; the cure rate for Stage 4 melanoma remains low, but the cancer is often treatable in earlier stages. The lab’s work extends beyond melanoma detection, exploring the broader application of quantum sensing to diagnose chronic kidney disease and refine the use of medical isotopes for disease detection and treatment.
Raizen Lab Pioneers Isotope Separation and Detection Methods
This work builds upon decades of advancements in areas like laser technology, which Raizen identifies as crucial to their current progress, emphasizing its indispensable role in their experiments. The lab has secured patents for more efficient methods of isolating and detecting isotopes, a process essential for creating radioisotopes precise enough to destroy individual cancer cells, potentially minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue. This focus on precision extends to fundamental investigations of quantum mechanics itself. Raizen’s team is embarking on an ambitious project to construct an atomic clock utilizing a radioactive atom, a first-of-its-kind experiment designed to observe the relationship between radioactive decay and the passage of time. “We can trap individual ions and measure their clock frequency and see if it changes as they head toward decay,” Raizen details, envisioning a deeper understanding of quantum phenomena.
The team intends to monitor a single atom with a 50-day half-life, meticulously tracking its decay over time. This collaboration highlights a growing international investment in applying quantum principles to medical challenges, and Raizen believes that breakthroughs in new approaches can lead to significant advancements in disease detection and treatment. The University of Texas at Austin’s involvement in the newly established Copenhagen Center for Biomedical Quantum Sensing, formalized in 2024, signifies a substantial $22 million investment in applying quantum physics to pressing medical challenges. Mark Raizen, professor of physics and pediatrics, serves as one of three co-principal investigators, focusing specifically on leveraging quantum sensing to improve global iron deficiency diagnosis and treatment. This collaborative effort extends beyond traditional medical imaging, exploring innovative diagnostic tools like advanced and highly targeted cancer therapies. “There is potential for a cure for cancer,” Raizen states, highlighting the ambitious scope of the research.
The pursuit of increasingly precise time measurement is now extending into the realm of nuclear physics, with researchers leveraging atomic clocks to directly observe radioactive decay, a phenomenon traditionally understood through statistical probability. This isn’t simply about refining timekeeping; it’s about probing the fundamental limits of quantum mechanics itself. Past atomic clock technology has already delivered unprecedented accuracy for applications like GPS and deep space exploration, but this experiment seeks to push boundaries further. By observing the subtle shifts in the atom’s clock frequency during decay, researchers hope to gain insights into the quantum processes governing this fundamental transformation. As Raizen emphasizes, the ultimate goal is to translate basic scientific discovery into tangible benefits for people.
