IBM, Riken, and Cleveland Clinic Link Quantum Systems to Simulate 12,000-Atom Protein
IBM, Riken, and the Cleveland Clinic have simulated a complex protein with more than 12,000 atoms by linking quantum systems with supercomputers. The achievement points toward future applications in drug discovery. Researchers say the hybrid approach could help identify new treatments for diseases that have resisted conventional methods.
IBM, Riken, and the Cleveland Clinic have achieved a new milestone in quantum computing by simulating a protein with more than 12,000 atoms.
The team linked quantum systems with classical supercomputers to run the simulation, a hybrid approach that combines the strengths of both technologies. Quantum computers handle the most complex calculations, while supercomputers manage the broader computational load.
Researchers say the achievement points toward practical applications in drug discovery. Many diseases are driven by proteins that are too complex to simulate with classical computers alone. Quantum-assisted simulation could help scientists understand how these proteins fold and interact, opening the door to new treatments.
The Cleveland Clinic has been an early adopter of quantum computing in healthcare. The hospital partnered with IBM in 2021 to explore quantum applications in medicine and has since expanded that work.
Quantum computing is still in early stages for most business applications. But the protein simulation result suggests the technology is moving closer to solving real-world problems in biology and medicine.
The achievement comes as investment in quantum computing infrastructure is accelerating. Governments and private companies are pouring money into the field, driven partly by competition with China, which has made quantum technology a national priority.
