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Organised as a collaboration between the Scottish Funding Council’s Brain Health Alliance and the Quantum Technologies Alliance, the Quantum Healthcare Summit invited influential members of the healthcare and quantum technologies sectors to learn and better understand each side’s capabilities, challenges, and opportunities. Hosted at Stirling Court Hotel on Thursday 14th and Friday 15th of November, the summit welcomed healthcare professionals, from front-line staff to management, researchers and policy makers, to explore what quantum is and its potential to support and improve the healthcare sector. It was also an opportunity for quantum researchers to understand the challenges faced by the healthcare sector and the impact their research could have on end-users.
Providing a government perspective, Faiyaz Amin, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, outlined the government’s approach to quantum sensing in healthcare.
After the break, attendees heard from Dr Jennifer Lees, University of Glasgow, on “The Good, the Bad and the Data: Exploring Clinical Datasets Dynamics” and gained insights into the capabilities of quantum computing with Dr Kenza Hammam, University of Edinburgh. Dr Charlotte Green introduced the University of Dundee’s Drug Discovery Unit and its ambition to translate academic research into solutions for unmet medical needs. Prof Melissa Mather, University of Nottingham, gave a talk on quantum diamonds and “Illuminating the Path to Neurological Therapies”. This was followed by “The NHS and Big Data”, examining safe and secure access to health data with Dr Charlie Mayor of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde SafeHaven, and a talk from Prof Gavin Morley, University of Warwick, on how diamond magnetometers can be used for surgery. Wrapping up the morning, Dr Alex Jones, National Physical Laboratory, discussed quantum technologies for life sciences and health, while providing some welcome ‘provocations’ on the realistic status and public perception of quantum technologies to inspire debate. In the afternoon, the audience was gathered into breakout groups of mixed disciplines and backgrounds to discuss the big challenges facing the NHS and how quantum technologies could help. The first day closed with a panel discussion, “From lab to market”, led by Dr Phil Marsden, with panellists Dr David Armstrong, Prof Daniele Faccio, Faiyaz Amin and Dr Jennifer Macfarlane, followed by a drinks reception and further opportunities to debate and discuss.
On the second day, attendees were introduced to the Brain Health ARC’s mission, aims and opportunities with Prof Terry Quinn. Prof Miles Padgett, Royal Society Research Professor and Kelvin Chair of Natural Philosophy at the University of Glasgow, gave an accessible introduction to quantum, mirroring Dr David Armstrong’s talk from an academic perspective. Attendees then heard from Joanna Crispell, Engagement Lead at Brain Health Scotland, about their mission to inspire and empower individuals to protect their brain health through better understanding dementia prevention and positive lifestyle factors. Dr Jennifer Macfarlane, SINAPSE Director and Medical Physicist at NHS Tayside introduced SINAPSE, the Scotland-wide, cross-disciplinary imaging network of scientists and clinicians, and examples of their scanning capabilities. SINAPSE are well placed at the intersection of physics and healthcare, and Dr Macfarlane gave an enlightening summary of the state-of-the-art in medical imaging, and where improvements (possibly from quantum technologies) are needed.  After the break, David Woolger, Managing Director of Cerca Magnetics, introduced the company and the origins and successes of their wearable magnetoencephalography (MEG) scanners. This technology allows brainwaves to be recorded and analysed by lightweight, portable scanners, while the wearer moves freely, enabling the potential to analyse how the brain functions across a range of situations from talking to a loved one to playing table tennis, and much more. Contributing a philosophical perspective, Dr Benjamin Sachs-Cobbe, University of St Andrews, gave a talk on the promise and peril of predicting one’s own future health, referencing ongoing research into dementia detection. Returning to healthcare and the cruciality of data, Dr Paul Nelson of Public Health Scotland talked the audience through the past, present and future realities and pitfalls of obtaining health data. Prof Cristian Bonato from the Institute of Photonics and Quantum Sciences at Heriot-Watt University gave an overview of Q-Biomed, the UK Quantum Biomedical Sensing Research Hub (Q-BIOMED). This was followed by non-pharmacological treatment and management of Alzheimer’s disease using sensory stimulation with Dr William McGeown, Strathclyde University, and Quantum Microscopy for Healthcare Prof Daniele Faccio of the University of Glasgow. The afternoon’s breakout sessions focussed on a similar theme of finding out the biggest challenges in healthcare and mapping them to the opportunities and potential across quantum technology. A final panel session featuring Dr Safia Qureshi, Dr Paul Nelson, Gemma Milne, and Dr Mike Tanner was hosted by Frances Hines, tackling the issue of technology accessibility within the NHS, and how this might affect the onset of quantum capabilities.
The UK government has made the development of quantum technology a priority over the next 10 years, and quantum technology for healthcare is a key focus within this mission. The breakouts and panel discussions confirmed that there is no shortage of exciting ideas around how quantum technology could shape healthcare. To make these ideas a reality, the Brain Health and Quantum Alliances are offering up to £15k seed funding for projects that meet at the intersection of these disciplines. This funding call has a specific focus on developing interventions that could be upscaled for eventual use within the NHS. Find out more here. 
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In September, Prof Joanna Wardlaw and Prof Terry Quinn hosted a workshop on “blood flow and brain health: tackling dementia through vascular research" at the Royal Society of Edinburgh's Curious Festival. The expert panel, featuring Dr Fergus Doubal, Prof William Whiteley, Dr Lucy Stirland, Dr Una Clancy, Dr Tim Wilkinson, Dr Carmen Arteaga Reyes, Dr Katie Gallacher and Dr Tom Russ, explored the vascular causes of dementia and the latest advancements in understanding, diagnosis, treatment and public health policy related to vascular health. Additionally, attendees heard first-hand from individuals living with dementia to gain insight into how their experiences align with the efforts of scientists and policymakers to improve their quality of life. Due to the volume of insightful and relevant questions received, a Q&A has since been recorded to recap what was discussed on the day. Watch below. The Brain Health ARC attended the 17th Annual Scientific Meeting for SINAPSE (the Scottish Imaging Network: A Platform for Scientific Excellence) in Stirling last month. SINAPSE is a consortium of seven Scottish universities encompassing Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, St Andrews, Stirling, and Strathclyde with partners from the NHS and industry. Together, the network has built a Scotland-wide cross-disciplinary community of scientists and clinicians with the shared goal of developing imaging to address global health and wellbeing challenges.  The meeting showcased abstracts, posters, and keynote speakers with new research from across Scotland, with exhibition stands from Canon, Health Informatics Centre, the University of Dundee, Life MI, NordicNeuroLab, Siemens Healthineers, Tayside Innovation, Medtech Ecosystem, and the Brain Health ARC. Sheena McGowan, Project Manager for the ARC, shared our latest news, including the recent webinar series, seed funding opportunities, and the Bio-Hermes data challenge. The meeting enabled us to network and spread awareness of the ARC across the triple helix (NHS, academia, and industry) while allowing for one-to-one interactions. The first Plenary Session was opened by Dr Magdalena Ietswaart, followed by an introduction from SINAPSE Director Dr Jennifer Macfarlane. We also heard from Dr Najat Salameh and Dr Mathieu Sarracanie from the University of Aberdeen, who introduced their newly opened Centre for Adaptable MRI Technology. Keynote speakers included Dr Ian Wilson, from the National PET Imaging Platform, on “Implementation of a National Total Body PET Platform in the UK: How will NPIP use Total Body PET in research?” and Dr Alan Anderson of Optos, who discussed “Imaging Projects and Initiatives with Optos”. The event then hosted a series of “parallel sessions” to ensure everyone in attendance could tailor their experience to align with interests and expertise. The sessions looked at Methods Development with Dr Sergio Dall’Angelo from the University of Aberdeen, Clinical Applications by Dr Isla Barnard from the University of Dundee, and Psychology/Psychiatry with Dr William McGeown from the University of Strathclyde. The second half of the day explored the topics of Image Analysis with Dr Nicholas Senn of the University of Aberdeen and ultrasounds with Prof Sandy Cochran of the University of Glasgow. The day concluded with an ECR Rising Star talk given by Dr Magda Mustile from the Université Catholique de Louvain on “Mobile brain imaging in Parkinson’s Disease”, and a final keynote from Dr Kathy Ruddy of Queen’s University Belfast on “Advancing Brain-Computer Interfaces from bench to bedside for neurorehabilitation using TMS-Neurofeedback”. The event was a fantastic opportunity to network and discover the latest research happening in Scotland while edging closer to our shared goal of improving the nation’s brain health. You can read more about the event here. Sign up for the Brain Health mailing list here.  Written by Poppy McCusker, Immunology Student at the University of Glasgow, who interned with the Brain Health ARC for two weeks in June.  Poppy McCusker As a third-year Immunology student at the University of Glasgow, I have always been fascinated by the immune system’s role in brain health and its impact on neurological diseases. This summer, my curiosity led me to a unique opportunity to dive into the world of science research, particularly focusing on brain health. Under the mentorship of Professor Terry Quinn, Brain Health ARC Director, and his team, I was given an immersive experience into all aspects of research management. I had the incredible opportunity to meet inspiring individuals, learn new information, and engage in a variety of exciting activities. The Brain Health ARC is currently leading an exciting project to map brain health across Scotland. Jinzhou Wu, a master’s student in Medical Visualisation who is interning at the ARC, is designing an interactive map which will be a powerful tool for researchers across Scotland, and potentially around the world, to understand what brain health work is happening across Scotland. Before the data can be mapped, it needs to be collected, and I was fortunate to be involved in this. I was tasked with gathering data for the Glasgow area, which gave me the opportunity to learn about the incredible work of individuals in Glasgow and the various research groups at the University of Glasgow, including the Stroke Group and Cognitive Impairment & Dementia Group. Jinzhuo and I discussed his vision, delving into the coding and visualisation programs he planned to use. Through this conversation, I picked up valuable knowledge and tips on structuring data, choosing the best graphs and plots for visualising information, and the criticality of cleaning data for accurate visualisations. This has broadened my technical skills and deepened my understanding of the connection between data science and brain health research. The Brain Health ARC also recently hosted a webinar series aimed at those starting their research careers or are new to research. I was tasked with reviewing the webinars from an outsider's perspective and providing feedback on what worked well and what could be improved. This assignment allowed me to watch a range of informative sessions and learn insightful information from the topics discussed. During my two weeks with the ARC, I had the opportunity to shadow Kalliopi Mavromati (Data Manager for the Bio-Hermes Data Challenge and Research Assistant at the University of Glasgow). Kalliopi's role in her research projects fascinated me, and I was very impressed with her dedication and hard work. Through meeting Kalliopi, I gained invaluable tips for steering my own career in the right direction. Following this, I met Stelios Lamprou, who explained his work within the Brain Health ARC for the Bio-Hermes Data Challenge. Stelios showed me the programs he uses for data coding alongside the coding script and language used to write code to create connections in the data. This gave me an insight into the complexity of coding such an extensive dataset! I also met Millie Mather (Communications Officer for the four ARCs). We discussed her role within the Brain Health ARC, including website management, newsletters and social media updates. Millie highlighted the importance of using accessible language to make complex information relatable and engaging for the public, in turn encouraging more people to get involved and contribute to the ARC’s mission. I also met Sheena McGowan, Brain Health Project Manager, who gave me an insight into planning aspects of research management. The highlight of my internship was attending the annual Scottish Dementia Research Consortium conference in Dundee, held in collaboration with the Neuroprogressive and Dementia Research Network. This was my first conference, and I was amazed by the passion everyone showed for their topics.
Overall, this two-week internship has been a rewarding experience. I gained practical skills, deepened my understanding of brain health research, and made important connections that will help shape my future career.
Join the Brain Health ARC mailing list for news and opportunities. Earlier this month, the Brain Health Alliance, alongside Glasgow Caledonian University, presented a two-day workshop exploring the impact of lifestyle factors on brain health. Welcoming speakers from as far as South Australia, the first day featured break-out sessions and input from voices in academia and social enterprise, while the second day offered a collaborative space for grant writing. Hosted and facilitated by Prof Sebastien Chastin, attendees were joined remotely by Prof Ashleigh Smith and Dr Maddison Mellow from the University of South Australia to hear about their 24-hour lifestyle intervention research in rural communities. This examined creating the “ideal day” for brain health ageing and dementia risk reduction. Dr Terry Quinn, director of the Brain Health Alliance, gave an outline of the origins and ambitions of the ARC and an update on the BioHermes data challenge. Prof Greet Cardon of Ghent University shared evidence-based lifestyle interventions with a focus on physical activity to benefit brain health. Moving from academia to social enterprise, Pasna Sallis of WeekdayWow shared her experience of creating a community of fun, freedom and friendship to enhance the brain health and well-being of senior members. Lifestyle factors also included the impact of sleep and cognition in brain health with Dr Maria Valdes Hernandez from Edinburgh University, and nutrition and cognition through the life course with Dr Rebecca Townsend from the University of Newcastle. To conclude day one, Ailin Chen from Stirling University joined remotely for an update on Brain Health Scotland and their mission to inspire and empower individuals to protect their brain health and reduce the risk of diseases that lead to dementia. Day two was a facilitated writing retreat to give attendees an overview of upcoming funding opportunities, the space to review ideas, and begin drafting proposals. Thank you to everyone who joined and collaborated!  Alliances for Research Challenges: a unique opportunity for Scottish Research Collaboration3/4/2024 Kalliopi Mavromati is a researcher with a background in psychology who is currently working with the Scottish Funding Council’s Brain Health Alliance for Research Challenges (ARC). In this short blog she introduces the ARCs and talks about her experiences as a guest at the launch of another ARC themed around quantum technologies.
Envisioning a creative and dynamic researcher community, the ARCs aim to support Early Career Researchers (ECRs) development through lectures and workshops, alongside unique opportunities. ARCs encourage applicants to establish new collaborations that involves ECRs and considers Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI). Diverse expertise is encouraged to drive research creativity through interdisciplinary collaboration. The ARCs further aim to bridge the gap between academic output and tangible impact. This is achieved through collaboration with Scottish public institutions, including various local councils. Ultimately, projects supported by the ARC through seed funding and other opportunities are anticipated to translate academic observations into actionable output that can directly inform policy and impact current applications.
Indeed, the Quantum ARC’s organisers and invited speakers eloquently demonstrated how someone with my background and familiarity with quantum could substantially contribute to the Quantum ARC’s commitment to stimulate new solutions that are inclusive, sustainable, and ethical by design. The ARC’s vision for a quantum society built on quantum science clearly illustrated to me the need for cross-discipline collaboration to support application-driven research. The importance of public outreach to not only promote but also inform research also struck me as tremendously relevant to brain health research.
For me, a key takeaway from this experience was the importance of bridging communication gaps between disciplines to realise novel ideas that truly have the potential to transform practice. If there’s one message you take away from this blog post, let it be that no matter your background as a researcher, the ARCs invite your drive and expertise to transform brain health, energy, food, and quantum practice. |
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The Brain Health Alliance for Research Challenges is supported by the Scottish Funding Council.
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