KIST Selected for Cleveland Clinic Quantum Project: "Real-Time Cardiovascular Risk Diagnosis with Only CT"[Reading Science]

There is an increasing possibility that a non-invasive diagnostic technology enabling real-time assessment of cardiovascular disease severity using only CT images will become a reality through quantum computing.

A joint research team from the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) has been selected for the global quantum healthcare program at Cleveland Clinic in the United States. With this, the team will begin full-scale research on implementing real-time CT-FFR analysis, which previously required invasive procedures or hours of computation.

Schematic of the open quantum system used in cardiovascular blood flow (top left) and tumor microenvironment (top right) as well as fluid dynamics simulation models (below). This open quantum system comprehensively solves the computational fluid dynamics equations and devises effective error mitigation and quantum gain implementation strategies. Provided by KIST

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On April 15, KIST announced that an international joint research team, including Dr. Kyunglim Han from the KIST Brain Science Institute, has been selected for the '2026 Quantum Innovation Catalyst Program' operated by Cleveland Clinic and global investment firm K5 Global. This year, only three teams worldwide were chosen. The project will be led by Honorary Distinguished Professor Doyul Ahn from the University of Seoul, with professors from the Departments of Radiology and Cardiology at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital of the Catholic University of Korea also participating.

The selected project is titled 'Quantum Algorithm-Based CT-FFR Simulation and Tumor Microcirculation Modeling.' The research team aims to develop algorithms that efficiently compute the Navier-Stokes equations describing complex blood flow on quantum computers, ultimately building a platform that can immediately predict the functional risk of cardiovascular stenosis using only imaging data.

The core focus is a paradigm shift in diagnostics. Until now, CT-FFR required hours of supercomputing-based calculations or invasive FFR procedures involving actual catheter insertion. If successful, this research will enable non-invasive, real-time diagnosis that can instantly analyze coronary risk immediately after CT imaging, significantly accelerating decision-making in emergency and outpatient care.

This research will also extend to optimizing tumor microcirculation and anticancer drug delivery. By precisely simulating blood flow and drug diffusion pathways within cancerous tissue, the team aims to improve the drug delivery phase-a key bottleneck in new drug development-thereby reducing both the cost and duration of drug development.

Over the next 12 months, the research team will receive guidance from both the medical staff at Cleveland Clinic and quantum researchers, utilizing the world’s first IBM Quantum System One dedicated to healthcare. The project will also benefit from an investment of up to 250,000 dollars from K5 Global and an equivalent amount of in-kind support from Cleveland Clinic.

Dr. Kyunglim Han stated, "Quantum computing is at a crucial juncture where it can begin to solve real clinical problems," adding, "We aim to present new solutions to two major clinical challenges: non-invasive cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diagnosis, and optimization of drug delivery for new medicines."

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