Spin-based quantum sensors to study single cells
Official title: Advancing Spin-Based Quantum Sensors for Single-Cell Analysis
Funded at Arizona State University-Tempe Campus · NIH-11463481 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research effort to use advanced quantum sensors to study individual cells in a way that could reveal new details about cell function and health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Arizona State University-Tempe Campus NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Scottsdale, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $363,365 |
| NIH project number | 1R35GM167169-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11463481 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals whose diseases involve cellular dysfunctions detectable by magnetic or metabolic biomarkers explored in this research.
✕Less likely to help
If a condition does not involve cellular-level magnetic or metabolic signals, benefits may be limited.
What this research studies
This project aims to develop and apply highly sensitive spin-based quantum sensors to observe single-cell biology under realistic conditions. By leveraging nanoscale magnetic sensing, researchers hope to probe processes like metabolism, oxidative stress, inflammation, and iron handling without labels. The work will address challenges in sensor coherence and compatibility with living cells while pushing toward practical biological insights. The study is conducted at Arizona State University in collaboration with a neuroscience and bioengineering focus, with results that could inform future diagnostic approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit from more precise biomarker detection and earlier or more accurate disease insights through noninvasive cellular measurements.
How similar studies have gone: Related spin-based sensing approaches have shown promise in nanoscale measurements, but applying them to living single cells is still emerging.
Where this research is happening
-
Arizona State University-Tempe Campus
Scottsdale, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Xie, Mouzhe — Arizona State University-Tempe Campus
- Study coordinator: Xie, Mouzhe
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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.