Leveraging Quantum Computing to Accelerate Biomedical Innovations

Quantum computing is poised to revolutionize health care and biomedical research, making a tangible impact on Americans’ everyday lives. By rapidly analyzing vast genetic and patient datasets, quantum technology will help uncover new precision medicines, optimize treatment plans, and improve disease modeling—leading to more effective, personalized health care. It will also make clinical trials faster and more cost-efficient, ensuring that breakthrough treatments reach patients sooner while lowering health care costs.

Westat collaborates with government and commercial clients to address challenges in using quantum computing to meet their needs. Three Westat thought leaders specializing in this field discuss how these challenges will be met and how this technology will transform epidemiologic and genomic research and health care delivery: Fatih Selekler, Vice President and Westat’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Client Account Lead; Kevin Wilson, PhD, Vice President and Biomedical Informatics and Data Coordination Portfolio Lead for Clinical Research; and Sunitha Mathew, MS, Vice President and Practice Director for Clinical Research.

Eliminating Client Challenges

“Clients have long struggled with the need to quickly analyze vast amounts of diverse datasets with millions of genetic variations and patient records with a multitude of data elements, impossible with classic computers,” says Selekler. “Quantum computing will eliminate the impediments to processing and interpreting these voluminous and varied data. This means we will be able to decode biomedical mysteries, discover precision medicines, quickly identify and respond to adverse drug events, and rapidly test theories on the real-world performance of emerging biomedical products and devices.”

Impacting People’s Lives

Quantum computing presents significant opportunities for advancing clinical trials and research by enhancing the speed and accuracy of simulations, modeling, and optimizations. “Quantum computing has the potential to revolutionize clinical trial design by efficiently modeling complex biological interactions and predicting outcomes,” says Mathew. “This capability helps identify the most suitable patient cohorts and optimize recruitment strategies.” Additionally, the technology can more accurately predict drug efficacy and safety across different populations, ultimately reducing the time and cost associated with clinical trials. “That means quicker access to more effective treatments, reduced health care costs, and improved overall health outcomes for everyone,” she adds.

Beyond clinical trials, quantum computing offers transformative possibilities for precision medicine. “Not only will we be able to help clients develop precision drugs, but this technology will help optimize treatment plans as well,” Mathew continues. “Quantum algorithms can analyze large-scale genomic data to identify genetic markers for diseases, leading to personalized treatment strategies. They can also enhance disease progression modeling and treatment response predictions, allowing for more effective and timely interventions.”

Selekler highlights the broader impact: “In essence, quantum computing and quantum AI hold the potential to give us a view into the unknown—rapidly advancing medicine and health care in multiple ways.”

Wilson underscores another critical advantage—faster identification and response to adverse drug events related to newly marketed medical products. “The accelerated speed quantum computing will provide in this area will save many, many lives,” he notes. “And regulatory and public health decisions will be supported by the kind of detailed information it can provide.”

Westat’s Training Programs in Quantum Computing

Westat is at the forefront of integrating this technology, offering training programs and collaborating with industry leaders to bring these advancements to reality within the next years. Westat has developed a training curriculum specific to federal agencies to help technical staff learn to write algorithms and code. It has also partnered with the Universities at Shady Grove in Maryland, which brings undergraduate and graduate programs from 9 of the state’s public universities into its own campus, to develop and deliver quantum computing workshops to students.

What Clients Can Expect in the Next 5 Years

“At Westat, we are actively collaborating with industry leaders and leveraging cutting-edge technologies to integrate quantum computing into our clinical research workflows,” says Mathew. “In the next few years, clients can expect more efficient, effective clinical trials, enhanced predictive models for clinical outcomes, greater cost savings, and better health outcomes for patients.”