A new 2026 article in Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology (click to view) from IBM researchers and the Quantum for Healthcare Life Sciences Consortium (Athos is a member and contributor), details how quantum computers, which use quantum physics rules to solve problems far faster than regular computers, can be leveraged with normal computers, AI, and multi-omics analysis to tackle extremely large and complex datasets derived from studies of single-cell biology.
These datasets track genes, proteins, and other omics details inside individual cells, helping scientists understand diseases and design better treatments. Today’s standard computers struggle with the massive size and complexity of these data, but quantum methods could speed up things by mapping cell positions, tracking how cells change over time, or predicting how drugs affect cells.
Quantum tech has improved quickly, but challenges like errors, short operation times, and tricky algorithms remain. The article suggests that hybrid approaches which can mix quantum and classical tools, especially with regard to multi-omics analysis, will likely bring real benefits soon, advancing the precision medicine revolution. Athos is proud to be a contributor to this publication and we view the focus on multi-omics as another validation to our scientific approach and AthosOmics.AI platform.