QT Sense raises €4M to advance real-time single-cell analysis

Unlike traditional biological techniques that rely on fixed tissue samples or non-living cells, Quantum Nuova measures biochemical activity in living cells and tissues in real time. This capability opens up new possibilities in spatial biology by allowing scientists to observe cellular processes as they happen.

The platform uses fluorescent nanodiamond quantum sensors to detect key biological signals such as oxidative stress, metabolic changes, and free radical activity. These signals play a major role in many diseases but have historically been difficult to measure directly in living systems.

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By offering a live, single-cell view of cellular behaviour, Quantum Nuova enables researchers to study how individual cells react to drugs, respond to stress, and form different subpopulations. This provides insights that go beyond what is possible with genomics, proteomics, or standard imaging techniques.

The technology has already been used to analyse the mechanisms of action of FDA-approved drugs. With support from the ONCO-Q grant, QT Sense will now apply Quantum Nuova to colorectal cancer research, aiming to identify oxidative stress patterns and metabolic weaknesses in tumour models to support future diagnostics and therapies.

The new funding will help move Quantum Nuova from a high-performing prototype to a fully deployable discovery platform. Planned upgrades include stronger and more scalable hardware, higher throughput, and integrated analytics suited for real-world research use. Early-access systems will be rolled out with strategic partners to support mechanism-of-action studies, analysis of functional cell diversity, and fast, label-free measurements across multiple samples.