Scottish university to develop ‘groundbreaking’ imaging technique capable of boosting Alzheimer’s research

The University of Strathclyde has been awarded a multi-million economic boost to enhance imaging techniques for health research.  

Supported by a £2m fund from the European Research Council, the team will use quantum physics to build a system capable of improving 3D imaging of biological samples.  

By using quantum entanglement - a method which allows two particles to remain connected even if far away - the QuNIm (Quantum-enhanced nonlinear imaging) project aims to allow for more detailed pictures than prior systems can give,  potentially becoming a significant tool for those investigating medical conditions. 

Project leader Lucia Caspani said: 

“If successful, we will safely extend the limit of deep-tissue imaging, delivering a transformative impact in different fields, with possible applications in neuroscience, where imaging of sub-cortical brain regions is crucial in fundamental studies into learning, memory and degenerative neural conditions such as Alzheimer's Disease,” Caspani added. 

Strathclyde received the funding after being selected by the ERC’s Consolidator Grants programme from over 2,100 candidates. The programme, which supports scientists at the early stages of their research, forms part of the EU’s key funding initiative for research and innovation, the Horizon Europe programme.