Quantum sensor-enabled magnetic resonance for biology
Official title: Quantum sensor-enabled nanoscale magnetic resonance
Funded at Northeastern University · NIH-11401198 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are developing diamond-based quantum sensors to dramatically improve magnetic resonance imaging of biological samples, aiming to study proteins and membranes at extremely small scales.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northeastern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $394,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM160564-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11401198 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals whose conditions are linked to molecular-level abnormalities in proteins or membranes studied in basic biophysics, though this is a foundational technology project.
✕Less likely to help
No direct clinical treatment is expected from this basic-physics grant.
What this research studies
This project aims to make magnetic resonance more usable for biology by using quantum sensors to boost sensitivity and operate at less extreme conditions. The team will integrate NV centers in diamond with proteins and biomembranes, while reducing photodamage and keeping samples compatible with biological systems. They will explore strategies such as total internal reflection geometry and surface-localization of targets to enable nanoscale measurements of biological processes. The work could open new ways to observe electron transport in metalloproteins and nanoscale motions in membranes at the single-molecule level.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit from fundamental advances in understanding biomolecular processes that underpin health and disease, potentially guiding new diagnostics or treatments.
How similar studies have gone: Similar quantum-sensor approaches have shown promise in physics and materials science, but their application to biological systems is still emerging.
Where this research is happening
-
Northeastern University
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stevenson, Paul — Northeastern University
- Study coordinator: Stevenson, Paul
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.