The Epilepsy Research Institute has welcomed today’s UK Government announcement of a major investment of up to £2 billion in quantum technologies, set to accelerate cutting-edge advances in the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy.
Research supported by the Institute has helped lay the foundations for some of the quantum-enabled technologies now being scaled through this national programme, with huge potential benefit to the epilepsy community.
The funding package includes an additional £13.8 million for the five National Quantum Technologies Programme Hubs, including the UK Quantum Technology Research Hub in Sensing, Imaging and Timing (QuSIT), which develops advanced quantum sensing, imaging, and timing technologies for healthcare, security, and industry. The Epilepsy Research Institute plays an active role in QuSIT, contributing to its Technology Adoption Panel and collaborating on research initiatives to help translate quantum technologies into practical healthcare applications.
Advancing epilepsy diagnosis with quantum technology
At the forefront of this work is wearable brain imaging using Optically Pumped Magnetometers (OPMs), sensors capable of detecting tiny magnetic fields produced by brain activity.
The Epilepsy Research Institute is central to a current Innovate UK project with Cerca Magnetics and the University of Nottingham, guiding NHS adoption and validation of the world’s first quantum-enabled OPM-MEG brain imaging system to improve epilepsy diagnosis and treatment. “Our role ensures that the perspectives of people affected by epilepsy, clinicians, and policymakers are at the heart of how OPM-MEG is developed and adopted,” said Hannah Pickard, Research Partnerships Lead at the Epilepsy Research Institute. “We are committed to engaging with communities to help shape a practical and affordable pathway for this technology within the NHS.”
Another key hub is Q-BIOMED, the UK’s first quantum research hub focused on medicine and life sciences. Led by researchers at University College London and the University of Cambridge, Q-BIOMED translates cutting-edge quantum science into practical healthcare technologies, with support from the Epilepsy Research Institute. Dr Umesh Vivekananda (Q-BIOMED Deputy Director and Deputy Chair of our Clinical Steering Group) has pioneered OPM-MEG in epilepsy patients, enhancing diagnosis and supporting surgical planning.
Jointly funded by an Epilepsy Research Institute and Young Epilepsy fellowship in 2021, Dr Tim Tierney at Q-BIOMED is developing more practical and accessible brain-imaging systems. Speaking at the time of the fellowship award, Dr Tierney said, “We hope this will have a great impact in hospitals and ultimately help propagate this technology worldwide so as many people as possible can benefit.”
Driving innovation and real-world impact
Rosemarie Pardington, Chief Executive of the Epilepsy Research Institute, said, “This research provides clear evidence of the extraordinary potential of UK science to transform the lives of people living with epilepsy. By supporting innovative quantum hubs and the researchers driving these technologies, the Institute is proud to help advance tools that are fundamentally changing how epilepsy is diagnosed and treated. This significant new investment reinforces that momentum, helping to accelerate the translation of these breakthroughs into real-world benefits for patients in the years ahead.”
This announcement underscores the growing momentum of UK science and its potential to improve patient care. By supporting pioneering research through projects such as those above, the Epilepsy Research Institute is helping to drive innovations in epilepsy diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment. Within the government’s broader £2 billion quantum strategy, these National Quantum Technologies Programme Hubs will play a central role in turning scientific advances into earlier diagnosis, more precise imaging, and better outcomes for people living with epilepsy.
Read more about the Innovate UK brain imaging project and partnership with Cerca Magnetics and the University of Nottingham.
Learn more about Dr Tim Tierney’s groundbreaking research and OPM-MEG technology.