NIH Quantum Sensing Technology Challenge is sponsored by National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS). Encourages innovative applications of quantum-enabled sensing technologies in biomedical research and clinical settings.

NIH Quantum Sensing Technology Challenge | National Institutes of Health (NIH) NIH Quantum Sensing Technology Challenge NIH Quantum Sensing Technology Challenge Solve translational biomedical problems with quantum-enabled sensing technologies.

The NIH Quantum Sensing Technology Challenge aims to spur innovative applications of existing quantum-enabled sensing technologies and to adapt and optimize them for use in biomedical research and clinical settings.

Phase 2 open until 06/29/26 05:00 PM EDT Total cash prizes: $1,600,000 To address the limitations in technological development and adoption of quantum-enabled sensing technologies to solve translational biomedical problems, the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is announcing the NIH Quantum Sensing Technology Challenge, one of two parallel Prize Challenges for the NIH Quantum Biomedical Innovations and Technologies (Qu-BIT) Program , by inviting multi-disciplinary collaborative teams to propose and develop new biomedical use cases of existing quantum-enabled technologies and to adapt and optimize them for use in biomedical research and clinical settings.

The three areas of interest for the NIH Quantum Sensing Technology challenge are the following: Quantum-enabled Approaches to Advance Biomedical Applications, Quantum-enabled Approaches for Early Detection and Diagnostics, Quantum-enabled Sensing and Imaging Devices for Diagnostics and Monitoring. The Challenge will have two stages: Ideation and Planning followed by Demonstration of Progress and Prototype Readiness.

Stage 1: Ideation and Planning In Stage 1, the focus is planning of the project’s subject area and approach of the technology development proposed so that innovators propose plans for the development of a project of their interest. Innovators are expected to clearly state how and why the proposed solution would provide significant advances over currently available tools.

Stage 2: Demonstration of Progress and Prototype Readiness (open until 6/29/2026) In Stage 2, there are two (2) milestones: Milestone 1: Innovators will be expected to demonstrate progress towards developing and testing their prototype quantum-enabled sensing technology approaches for the proposed biomedical/clinical context of use.

This includes practical demonstration of the quantum-enabled sensing technology, that is, initial preliminary demonstration of the prototype in clinical and/or biomedical context. Milestone 2: Innovators will be expected to provide a final demonstration of the prototype’s application within the intended real- context of their chosen biomedical use case.

Quantum-enabled sensing technologies provide unprecedented sensitivity, accuracy, and precision in detecting early markers of disease and improving diagnostics with several near-term applications in biomedical fields. Despite these developments in quantum technologies, their use in biomedical fields remains limited and underexplored.

The demonstrable and real-world applications of these technologies require further optimization, testing, and validation, and implementation for translational impact in health sciences.

The key challenges hampering quantum technological development and adoption for biomedical fields are: 1) silos of disciplines and lack of useful collaborations between quantum scientists and biomedical scientists that can lead to impactful biomedical applications; 2) lack of resources to support interdisciplinary collaborative efforts; 3) underexplored biomedical and clinical use cases that could maximize the impact of these technologies; and 4) lack of avenues and means for implementing these technologies in a practical fashion for real world contexts (e.g., bioresearch labs, clinical settings).

The recent advancements in quantum information sciences and engineering through the US National Quantum Initiative and international efforts have led to the development of second-generation quantum technologies (e.g., sensing, computing, networking, and communications) that harness the power of quantum physics and engineered quantum states to enable new modalities that provide disruptive capabilities in sensing and detecting and biological entities, as well as new computational capabilities.

The more mature of these are quantum sensing technologies that have several near-term applications in biomedical fields, whereas quantum computing and algorithms are rapidly emerging and have potential for certain biomedical applications.

This Challenge aims to address key subject areas by incentivizing multidisciplinary teams (biomedical, quantum scientists, engineers, computational experts) to work together to apply emerging quantum-enabled sensing approaches to biomedical research and clinical applications to broaden current capabilities in areas such as early detection, diagnostics, and therapeutic development.

Examples of quantum-enabled technologies for sensing and detection that leverage quantum phenomena such as quantum coherence and entanglement, include but not limited to the following: Diamond color centers and other solid-state defects, functionalized nanodiamonds, doped nano diamonds, doped rare materials, hybrid materials, and other quantum materials including 2D and 3D materials.

Atomic sensors that leverage quantum resources (e.g., atomic magnetometers) Quantum-enabled microscopy, spectroscopy, thermometry Quantum-enabled NMR, OCT, MRI technologies Quantum-enabled functional imaging modalities Sensors that leverage hyperpolarized spin states Entangled sensor networks Devices that operate below classical limit (shot-noise limit) Quantum-enabled optical probes for florescent detection Quantum optical effects such as quantum-enhanced interferometry Quantum-enhanced microscopy techniques leveraging non-classical sources of light such as squeezed light, entangled photons, and single-photon detection Integrated photonics circuits leveraging quantum effects.

Proposed solutions are expected to leverage existing quantum-sensing technologies that have promising core technical capabilities applicable for biological use. These solutions could combine different quantum sensing and classical modalities for synergistic enhancement of sensing and detection approaches that are needed to advance existing quantum-enabled technologies to real world applications.

Specific examples of areas of interest include but are not limited to: Quantum-enabled Approaches to Advance Biomedical Applications Quantum-enabled approaches for enhancing drug development (e.g., scalable assays for drug-screening, target identification, target-ligand interactions, toxicology) Quantum-enabled approaches for establishing and validating novel biological measurements that indicate physiological and disease states.

Quantum-enabled approaches for sensitive and specific detection of various environmental exposures and their impact on human health (e.g., evaluation of molecular changes associated with exposome and how those exposures relate to human health).

Quantum-enabled Approaches for Early Detection and Diagnostics Novel quantum-enabled technologies for ultra-sensitive, selective, and specific detection of analytes in crude samples for enabling early detection of diseases, and improved clinical diagnostics (e.g., single-cell or single-molecule detection) Quantum-enabled approaches to detect early markers of disease in retrievable biofluids (e.g., interstitial fluid, sweat, saliva, tears).

Quantum-enabled flow cytometry and microfluidic-based approaches with improved sensitivity, separation, or selectivity. Quantum-enabled approaches that have the potential to be multiplexed or scalable.

Quantum-enabled Sensing and Imaging Devices for Diagnostics and Monitoring Portable and wearable devices for non-invasive approaches Instruments for ultra-sensitive for ultra-sensitive for ex vivo or in vivo biological measurements (e.g., quantum-enhanced benchtop NMR spectrometer for ultra-sensitive analytical chemistry for molecular analysis) Devices that can detect important low-concentration biomarkers indicative of stress, inflammation, metabolic, and reproductive status, early markers of disease in retrievable biofluids (e.g., interstitial fluid, sweat, saliva, tears).

Chip-scale photonic devices for on-chip spectroscopic measurements. Quantum-enabled devices for detecting volatile organic compounds (e.g., optical frequency combs). Quantum-enhanced OCT, MRI technologies for diagnostics and health monitoring The proposed solutions will include strategies for testing and validation of promising core technologies for new biomedical and translational use cases.

This prize will not support fundamental research for the development of quantum technologies. Expected technological outputs include but are not limited to generation of validated quantum-enabled sensing technology approaches for biomedical and clinical use cases. The proposed solutions are expected to be significant improvements compared to current approaches.

These technological improvements are expected to ultimately lead to better diagnostics, detection, and drug discovery tools, and better patient care. For more details on expected outcomes, please refer to the submission instructions and evaluation criteria provided in the Judging Criteria Section below.

Partners: National Eye Institute (NEI), National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) NCATS reserves the right to cancel, suspend, and/or modify the Challenge, or any part of it, for any reason, at the NCATS’ sole discretion.

9/27/2024 05:00 PM EDT: Challenge Launch (Registration opens) 11/13/2024 12:00 PM EST: NIH Quantum Sensing Challenge Webinar (estimated) 4/04/2025 05:00 PM EDT: Challenge Stage 1 – Planning Proposal Submission Deadline 8/11/2025 05:00 PM EDT: Stage 1 - Announcement of Top Submissions 6/29/2026 05:00 PM EDT: Challenge Stage 2 Milestone 1 – Prototype Development and Milestone Delivery Deadline 9/28/2026 05:00 PM EDT: Challenge Stage 2 Milestone 1 – Announcement of Top Submissions 6/26/2027 05:00 PM EDT: Challenge Stage 2 Milestone 2 – Final Project Delivery and Demonstration 9/27/2027 12:00 PM EDT: Winners’ Presentations (estimated) 9/27/2027 05:00 PM EDT: Challenge Winning and Runner-Up Team Announcements NCATS will award up to $1,600,000 to the Challenge winners as follows: Stage 1: up to 10 proposals that are judged to best meet the requirements will be awarded up to $20,000 and be invited to proceed to Stage 2 of the Challenge.

Stage 2 will be open to innovators with top scoring submissions from Stage 1. Stage 2 is divided into 2 milestones: Milestone 1: up to 5 teams that receive the highest scores for this stage of prototype development will receive up to $150,000 and will be eligible to move forward to Milestone 2.

Milestone 2: Following completion of the deliverables for Milestone 2 and following judging period, 1 grand prize winner will be awarded $400,000, and 1 runner-up will be awarded $250,000.

To be eligible to win a prize under this Challenge, a participant (whether an individual, group of individuals (team), or entity): Shall have registered to participate in the Challenge under the rules promulgated by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as published in this announcement; Shall have complied with all the requirements set forth in this announcement; In the case of a private entity, shall be incorporated in and maintain a primary place of business in the United States, and in the case of an individual, whether participating singly or in a group, shall be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States.

However, non-U.S. citizens and non-permanent residents can participate as a member of a team that otherwise satisfies the eligibility criteria. Non-U.S. citizens and non-permanent residents are not eligible to win a monetary prize (in whole or in part). Their participation as part of a winning team, if applicable, may be recognized when the results are announced.

Shall not be a federal entity or federal employee acting within the scope of their employment; Shall not be an employee of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS, or any other component of HHS) acting in their personal capacity; Who is employed by a federal agency or entity other than HHS (or any component of HHS), should consult with an agency ethics official to determine whether the federal ethics rules will limit or prohibit the acceptance of a prize under this Challenge; Shall not be a judge of the Challenge, or any other party involved with the design, production, execution, or distribution of the Challenge or the immediate family of such a party (i.e., spouse, parent, step-parent, child, or step-child).

Shall be 18 years of age or older at the time of submission.

Federal grantees and recipients of cooperative agreements or other transaction (OT) awards are eligible to participate in the Challenge but may not use Federal funds from a grant award, cooperative agreement, or OT award to develop their Challenge submission or to fund efforts in support of their Challenge submission unless use of such funds is consistent with the purpose, terms, and conditions of the grant award, cooperative agreement, or OT award.

Each Participant (whether participating as a Team or Entity) intending to use Federal grant, cooperative agreement, or OT award funds must register for and participate in the Challenge as an entity on behalf of the awardee institution, organization, or entity.

If a winning Participant uses Federal grant, cooperative agreement, or OT award funds to participate in the Challenge, the prize must be treated as program income for purposes of the original grant, cooperative agreement, or OT award in accordance with applicable Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards [2 CFR § 200].

Participants using Federal grant, cooperative agreement, or OT award funds to participate and/or report prize funding as program income (for winning Participants) should coordinate with the awarding official at the federal awarding agency. Federal contractors may not use federal funds from a contract to develop their Challenge submissions or to fund efforts in support of their Challenge submissions.

By participating in this Challenge, each Participant (whether an individual, group of individuals, or entity) agrees to assume any and all risks and waive claims against the federal government and its related entities, except in the case of willful misconduct, for any injury, death, damage, or loss of property, revenue, or profits, whether direct, indirect, or consequential, arising from participation in this Challenge, whether the injury, death, damage, or loss arises through negligence or otherwise.

Based on the subject matter of the Challenge, the type of work that it will possibly require, as well as an analysis of the likelihood of any claims for death, bodily injury, property damage, or loss potentially resulting from Challenge participation, no Participant (whether an individual, group of individuals, or entity) participating in the Challenge is required to obtain liability insurance, or demonstrate financial responsibility, or agree to indemnify the federal government against third party claims for damages arising from or related to Challenge activities in order to participate in this Challenge.

A Participant (whether an individual, group of individuals, or entity) shall not be deemed ineligible because the Participant used federal facilities or consulted with federal employees during the Challenge if the facilities and employees are made available to all Participants participating in the Challenge on an equitable basis.

By participating in this Challenge, each Participant (whether an individual, group of individuals, or entity) grants to the NIH an irrevocable, paid-up, royalty-free nonexclusive worldwide license to reproduce, publish, post, link to, share, and display publicly the submission on the web or elsewhere, and a nonexclusive, nontransferable, irrevocable, paid-up license to practice, or have practiced for or on its behalf, the solution throughout the world.

Each Participant will retain all other intellectual property rights in their submissions, as applicable. To participate in the Challenge, each Participant must warrant that there are no legal obstacles to providing the above-referenced nonexclusive licenses of the Participant’s rights to the federal government.

To receive an award, Participants will not be required to transfer their intellectual property rights to NIH, but Participants must grant to the federal government the nonexclusive licenses recited herein. Each Participant (whether an individual, group of individuals, or entity) agrees to follow all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and policies.

Each Participant (whether an individual, group of individuals, or entity) participating in this Challenge must comply with all terms and conditions of these rules, and participation in this Challenge constitutes each such Participant’s full and unconditional agreement to abide by these rules. Winning is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements herein.

As a condition for winning a cash prize in this Challenge, each Participant (whether an individual, group of individuals, or entity) that has been selected as a winner must complete and submit all requested winner verification and payment documents to NIH within seven (7) business days of formal notification.

Failure to return all required verification documents by the date specified in the notification may be a basis for disqualification of a cash prize winning submission. Phase 1: Ideation and Planning Basis Upon Which Winners Will be Selected A panel of federal and non-federal reviewers, with expertise directly relevant to the Challenge, will evaluate the solutions based on the criteria listed below.

The solutions and evaluation statements from the technical panel will then be reviewed by federal employees serving as judges, who will select the Challenge winners, subject to the final decision by the Award Approving Official. The points assigned to each set of evaluation criteria are guidelines from NCATS to indicate which scientific criteria are of emphasis and interest to the Center.

Challenge Stage 1: Project Proposal Number of winners: up to 10 Criterion Relative Weight Does the proposed solution involve innovative application of new or existing technology? To what degree and in what aspects is the proposed approach expected to be better than the current state-of-the-art technologies? Has the innovator or team of innovators demonstrated that appropriate expertise was utilized during development of the design?

Has the team involved all necessary expertise from biomedical or clinical areas that is relevant to the proposal? Did the team identify potential roadblocks and suggest additional expertise that would be utilized to facilitate resolution of roadblocks to implementation? Has the team engaged the end-users and patient community that would benefit from this technological development?

How well has the team explained why a novel or improved quantum-enabled sensing approach is needed or suitable for the proposed biomedical context of use? Did the proposal include adequate details on the design and technical specifications of the proposed technology solution for the biomedical context and strategies for addressing challenges that may arise in its development?

Does the proposed solution detail the utility of the developed methods including expected outcomes? How well does the proposed solution describe how the proposed technological solution for the biomedical context is expected to be superior to the current approaches? Does the proposal include details on core technical capabilities of the sensing and detection capabilities applicable to the stated biomedical use case?

Did the proposal provide adequate details on potential strategies for validation and testing of the technological solution for the proposed biomedical use case? To what degree does the proposed technological solution for the proposed biomedical and/or clinical use case provide demonstrable evidence of improvement compared to current technologies?

Does the proposal include adequate metrics along with the timeline to demonstrate the progress towards the milestones stated in the challenge? How compatible and feasible is the proposed technological approach with the stated biomedical use case(s)? To what degree is the proposed approach likely to succeed in the proposed biomedical use case?

How compatible is the proposed technological approach with the stated biomedical use case? To what degree is the proposed approach likely to succeed in the proposed biomedical use case?

Potential Impact 15 points To what degree is the proposed technology likely to lead to significant improvements in current approaches in biomedical research applications, as well as diagnostics, early detection, therapeutic development, and health monitoring? To what degree will the proposed solution impact utilization of novel quantum-enabled sensing technologies in biomedical research and health science fields?

Phase 2: Demonstration of Progress and Prototype Readiness (open until 6/29/2026) Basis Upon Which Winners Will be Selected A panel of federal and non-federal reviewers, with expertise directly relevant to the Challenge, will evaluate the solutions based on the criteria listed below.

The solutions and evaluation statements from the technical panel will then be reviewed by federal employees serving as judges, who will select the Challenge winners, subject to the final decision by the Award Approving Official.

To evaluate the Stage 2 deliverables, virtual site visits will be conducted during which a presentation will be given to a panel of subject matter experts and program officials who will have an opportunity to ask questions. The points assigned to each set of evaluation criteria are guidelines from NCATS to indicate which scientific criteria are of emphasis and interest to the Center.

Challenge Stage 2 Milestone 1: Progress on Prototype Development Number of winners: up to 5 Criterion Relative Weight Documentation of progress 20 points Based on the written summary: Has the innovator(s) demonstrated meaningful progress towards a working prototype? To what degree does the demonstration provide a clear path toward a successful outcome? Have there been meaningful changes to the approach described in the project proposal?

If so, how could this impact the project’s outcome? Demonstration of progress 30 points Based on the pre-recorded presentation: Quality of the content of the presentation To what extent have text, appropriate data, images and other media been effectively incorporated? To what extent does the presentation depict physical and experimental components of the prototype development?

Challenge Stage 2 Milestone 2: Prototype Delivery and Demonstration Number of winners: one (1) winner and one (1) runner-up Criterion Relative Weight Prototype quality 50 points Based on the virtual site visit: Has the innovator(s) demonstrated a working prototype within the described biomedical use case? To what degree is this technology ready for use outside of a laboratory environment?

To what degree does this device provide impact to its biomedical use case? Phase 1: Ideation and Planning Registration and Submission Process: Note: Although the challenge announcement is posted at Challenge. gov, registration information and complete submissions (as pdf files) must be sent via email to NIHQuantumChallenges@mail.

nih. gov . Entries will be accepted only from innovators from whom complete registration information and submissions are received via email (together or separately) by the submission deadline on April 4, 2025 .

The registration forms can be downloaded from the “Resources” tab. Registration Requirements: To be eligible to submit an entry to this prize competition, interested participants (whether an Individual, Team, or Entity) must submit complete registration information via email to NIHQuantumChallenges@mail. nih.

gov prior to the Submission Deadline. Additional instructions on about who must submit registration information and what must be included is provided below. Individual participants must complete the registration.

For teams, the Team Lead must complete the registration. For entities, the designated entity Point of Contact (POC) must complete the registration. The registration forms can be downloaded from the “Resources” tab.

Information to be provided to register for the challenge: Indicate whether you are registering for this Challenge as an individual or on behalf of a team (group of individuals) or entity (legally established organization, institution, or corporation).

Indicate whether you intend to use Federal funds from a grant award, cooperative agreement or other transaction to develop your Challenge submission or to fund efforts in support of your Challenge submission, which requires registration as an entity that is the awardee or recipient of the grant, cooperative agreement or other transaction. For individuals and teams, provide name and contact information for all participants.

For entities, provide the entity name and location, and the contact information for a designated entity POC in addition to all other participants.

For individuals and teams, each participant, completes a certification that you have read and understand the official eligibility criteria, rules, and requirements of the Challenge, agree to participate in the Challenge, and acknowledge that you must comply with the official eligibility criteria, rules, and requirements.

For entities, the designated point of contact, in addition to the other participants, provides a certification that you have read and understand the official eligibility criteria, rules, and requirements of the Challenge, agree to participate in the Challenge, and acknowledge that you must comply with the official eligibility criteria, rules, and requirements.

A technical assistance webinar for registrants will be held for the Quantum Sensing Challenge on November 13, 2024. NIH staff will be available to answer questions related to the challenge. Information about the webinar will be made available to registered participants.

Interested participants are encouraged to submit questions regarding the challenge to NIHQuantumChallenges@mail. nih. gov .

To participate in the NIH Quantum Sensing Technology Challenge , the name of every innovator, whether an individual, team (group of individuals), or entity, must be listed on the required Cover Page. Please review the Judging Criteria for the Challenge and address the criteria in your submission. For Teams : Each participating Team is required to identify a Team Lead who will submit entries on behalf of the Team members.

The Team Lead is responsible for all communications with the Challenge sponsors. To be eligible to receive a cash prize, the Team Lead must be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States.

Non-U.S. citizens and non-permanent residents can participate as a member of a team that otherwise satisfies the eligibility criteria; however, citizens and non-permanent residents are not eligible to win a monetary prize (in whole or in part).

In the event that a dispute regarding the identity of the Team Lead who actually submitted the entry cannot be resolved to the satisfaction of the NIH, the affected submission will be deemed ineligible. For Entities : Each participating Entity is required to identify one Point of Contact who will submit entries on behalf of the Entity. The Point of Contact is responsible for all communications with the Challenge sponsors.

In the event of winning a cash prize, the prize will be paid directly to the Entity, not to the Point of Contact. To be eligible to receive a cash prize, the Entity must be incorporated in and maintain a primary place of business in the United States.

As stated in the Participation Rules, Participants intending to use Federal grant, cooperative agreement, or OT funds (where permissible) must register for and participate in the Challenge as an Entity on behalf of the awardee institution or organization.

In the event that a dispute regarding the identity of the Point of Contact who actually submitted the entry cannot be resolved to the satisfaction of the NIH, the affected submission will be deemed ineligible.

All submissions must include a statement agreeing to the Challenge terms & conditions by including the following in the Cover Page : “I understand and agree that each i nnovator for the Challenge must comply with all terms and conditions of the Challenge rules, and participation in this Challenge constitutes each such innovator’s full and unconditional agreement to abide by these rules .

” Submissions that do not include this language will be deemed non-compliant and will not be evaluated. The registration and submission forms can be downloaded from the “Resources” tab. Detailed Stage 1 submissions should be created using the format below and must be submitted in pdf format prior to the deadline of April 4, 2025, at 5:00 PM ET at the following email address: NIHQuantumChallenges@mail.

nih. gov . Stage 1 Submission Requirements All submissions must be written in English and cannot be handwritten.

NIH requires 1” margins, the use of font that is at least 11 pt in size, and generally recommends the use of either Arial, Georgia, Helvetica, or Palatino Linotype. It is recommended that the written document has at least 1. 0 line spacing.

Each submission must include: Team or Entity location (State, Country) Indicate the specific challenge area your proposed solution targets: Quantum-enabled Approaches to Advance Biomedical Applications Quantum-enabled Approaches for Early Detection and Diagnostics Quantum-enabled Sensing and Imaging Devices for Diagnostics and Monitoring Project and Data (up to 12 pages inclusive of project description and all figures, tables and data).

It is preferable that this section is presented in the order stated below to facilitate evaluation and judging. Submissions must not include HHS’s logo or official seal or the logo of NIH or NCATS and must not claim federal government endorsement. Please organize the submission into the sections as indicated below.

COVER PAGE (up to 1 page; this does not count toward the 12-page limit) Please include the following information on the cover page: The innovator or lead innovator’s name and contact information Please include the statement below.

Submissions without this statement will not be evaluated: “I understand and agree that each i nnovator for the Challenge must comply with all terms and conditions of the Challenge rules, and participation in this Challenge constitutes each such innovator’s full and unconditional agreement to abide by these rules .

” DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED SOLUTION (12-page limit) Please include the following sections and content in the description of the proposed solution . Plain Language Summary (0. 5 page) Provide a concise summary of your submission that can be easily understood by a general audience.

Describe your proposed solution, emphasizing its significance and innovation. Note that the winners’ summary section will be shared publicly and used for broader dissemination to inform the public about the contributions and significance of your work. Team Composition and Expertise (1 page) Provide details about your team, emphasizing any interdisciplinary expertise that will be needed to address the proposed biomedical use cases.

Provide details on the team’s experience in designing and implementing quantum-enabled sensing technologies. Novelty of the Idea (1 page) Highlight the novelty and innovation of your proposed idea. Describe how the proposed solution is better than existing solutions for the proposed biomedical context of use.

Quantum Sensing Approach (8 pages) Explain why the proposed biomedical or clinical use case is suitable for addressing through quantum-enabled sensing technological approaches. Explain why a novel quantum-based sensing or measurement approach is needed to solve the stated problem. Provide a clear explanation, scientific rationale, and evidence base for your proposed technological solution.

Describe the technical specifications of the proposed solution and discuss challenges that may arise through its development and their resolutions. Describe potential strategies for validation and testing of these technologies for the proposed biomedical use cases. If adopting or repurposing existing quantum technologies to a new biomedical use case, describe how you will optimize the technology for the new context.

Include details on the novelty of the approach in comparison with the existing approaches.

Describe how the biomedical and/or clinical use cases will provide demonstrable evidence of improvement compared to the current state-of-the-art technologies in terms of accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, signal-to-noise ratio, spatial and temporal resolution, ease of use, overcoming cytotoxicity or photodamage, lower use of resources and processing time, and/or adding new measurement capabilities.

Include performance metrics and a timeline that will prove you have reached your objectives and to demonstrate the progress towards the milestones stated in the challenge. Measurable outcomes must be included. Feasibility and Potential Impact (1.

5 page) Provide details on the feasibility of implementing the proposed solution for the biomedical contexts of use, potential roadblocks, and strategies for overcoming the roadblocks. Describe the potential translational impact of your idea on advancing the use quantum sensors in health science.

REFERENCES (1 page; include only the most relevant citations; this section does not count toward the 12-page limit) Please use APA style ( https://apastyle. apa. org/learn/tutorials/basics-tutorial ) for citations and references.

Only complete submissions will be considered. Phase 2: Demonstration of Progress and Prototype Readiness (open until 6/29/2026) Stage 1 winners will be invited to submit entries for Stage 2. For Stage 2, Stage 1 winners will be required to submit a written progress report and pre-recorded presentation that describe progress towards the Milestone 1.

Stage 1 winners will also be required to participate in a virtual site visit with technical experts and NIH staff. Those who attain Milestone 1 will be invited