Cleveland Clinic and IBM unveil first quantum computer dedicated to healthcare research

• The IBM Quantum System One deployed at Cleveland Clinic is part of a landmark 10-year partnership.

March 2023 – Cleveland Clinic and IBM have officially unveiled the first deployment of an onsite private-sector IBM-managed quantum computer in the United States. The IBM Quantum System One installed at Cleveland Clinic will be the world’s first quantum computer dedicated exclusively to healthcare research, with the aim of helping Cleveland Clinic accelerate biomedical discoveries.

The unveiling marks a key milestone in Cleveland Clinic and IBM’s 10-year Discovery Accelerator partnership, announced in 2021, which focuses on advancing the pace of biomedical research through high-performance computing, artificial intelligence and quantum computing. The system was unveiled at a formal event attended by leaders from IBM and Cleveland Clinic; Susan Monarez, Ph.D., Deputy Director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H); Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11); Ohio Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted; and Cleveland Mayor Justin M. Bibb.

Quantum computing is an emerging technology that harnesses the laws of quantum mechanics to solve problems that today’s most powerful supercomputers practically cannot. The ability to tap into these new computational spaces could help researchers identify new medicines and treatments more quickly.

“This is a pivotal milestone in our innovative partnership with IBM, as we explore new ways to apply the power of quantum computing to healthcare,” said Tom Mihaljevic, MD, CEO and President of Cleveland Clinic and Morton L. Mandel CEO Chair. “This technology holds tremendous promise in revolutionising healthcare and expediting progress towards new cares, cures and solutions for patients. Quantum and other advanced computing technologies will help researchers tackle historic scientific bottlenecks and potentially find new treatments for patients with diseases like cancer, Alzheimer’s and diabetes.”

“With the unveiling of IBM Quantum System One at Cleveland Clinic, their team of world-class researchers can now explore and uncover new scientific advancements in biomedical research,” said Arvind Krishna, Chairman and CEO of IBM. “By combining the power of quantum computing, artificial intelligence and other next-generation technologies with Cleveland Clinic’s world-renowned leadership in healthcare and life sciences, we hope to ignite a new era of accelerated discovery.”

In addition to quantum computing, the Cleveland Clinic–IBM Discovery Accelerator draws on a variety of IBM’s latest advances in computing technologies, including high-performance computing via the hybrid cloud and artificial intelligence. Researchers from both organisations are collaborating closely on a robust portfolio of projects using these advanced technologies to generate and analyse massive amounts of data to enhance research.

The Cleveland Clinic–IBM Discovery Accelerator has generated multiple projects that leverage the latest in quantum computing, AI and hybrid cloud to help accelerate discoveries in biomedical research. These include:

• Developing quantum computing pipelines to screen and optimise drugs targeted to specific proteins.
• Improving a quantum-enhanced prediction model for cardiovascular risk following non-cardiac surgery.
• Applying artificial intelligence to search genome sequencing findings and large drug-target databases to find effective existing drugs that could help patients with Alzheimer’s and other diseases.

The Discovery Accelerator also serves as the technology foundation for Cleveland Clinic’s Global Center for Pathogen and Human Health Research, part of the Cleveland Innovation District. The centre, supported by a US$500 million investment from the State of Ohio, JobsOhio and Cleveland Clinic, brings together a team focused on studying, preparing for and protecting against emerging pathogens and virus-related diseases. Through the Discovery Accelerator, researchers are leveraging advanced computational technology to expedite critical research into treatments and vaccines.

A significant part of the collaboration focuses on educating the workforce of the future and creating jobs to grow the economy. An innovative educational curriculum is being designed for participants from high school to professional level, offering training and certification programmes in data science, machine learning and quantum computing to build the skilled workforce needed for the cutting-edge computational research of the future.

In addition, both organisations are hosting research symposia, seminars and workshops aimed at academia, industry, government and the public, with the goal of building a critical mass of computing specialists in Cleveland.

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About Cleveland Clinic

Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical centre that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, it was founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based on the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. Cleveland Clinic has pioneered many medical breakthroughs, including coronary artery bypass surgery and the first face transplant in the United States.  

U.S. News & World Report consistently names Cleveland Clinic as one of the nation’s best hospitals in its annual “America’s Best Hospitals” survey. Among Cleveland Clinic’s 72,500 employees worldwide are more than 5,050 salaried physicians and researchers, and 17,800 registered nurses and advanced practice providers, representing 140 medical specialties and subspecialties.  Cleveland Clinic is a 6,500-bed health system that includes a 173-acre main campus near downtown Cleveland, 21 hospitals, more than 220 outpatient facilities, and locations in northeast Ohio; southeast Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; Toronto, Canada; Abu Dhabi, UAE; and London, England.

 In 2021, there were 10.2 million outpatient visits, 304,000 hospital admissions and observations, and 259,000 surgeries across Cleveland Clinic’s health system. Patients came for treatment from every state and 185 countries.  

Visit us at clevelandclinic.org. Follow us at twitter.com/ClevelandClinic. News and resources available at newsroom.clevelandclinic.org.

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