Technion Researchers Explore Quantum Computing and Cancer Nanotechnology
Researchers at the Technion are pushing the boundaries of science and technology, focusing on areas like quantum computing and advanced cancer treatments. Professor Lihi Zelnik-Manor, the Technion's Vice President for External Relations and Resource Development, emphasizes that science is always about the future, not the past. She views artificial intelligence (AI) as a tool to unlock new possibilities, stating the key question is "what can be done with AI, and what lies beyond AI?"
One frontier is quantum technology. Professor Yoav Sagi in the Physics Faculty is researching quantum systems for complex calculations beyond the capabilities of conventional computers. He stresses the need to bridge science and engineering to translate quantum science into technology, noting that quantum computers are a fundamentally different type of machine whose full potential is still being discovered. For students like chemical engineering doctoral student Ofri Wiznitzer, seeing this technology firsthand makes classroom learning tangible and exciting.
In the chemical engineering faculty, Dr. Assaf Singer and his team are developing a novel approach to cancer treatment using nanoparticles. Instead of delivering chemotherapy, they are engineering hollow nanoparticles with proteins from white blood cells to "talk" to cancer cells, instructing them to stop dividing. This research, focusing on solid tumors like Triple Negative breast cancer, is conducted in collaboration with physicians from the Rambam Health Care Campus. The interdisciplinary approach involves doctors, scientists, engineers, and students, allowing for a holistic study of both the cancer cell and its surrounding environment.
Postdoctoral fellow Dr. Devora Kahn, researching cancer vaccines and biomimetic nanoparticles, has a personal connection to the work as a BRCA1 mutation carrier, aiming to develop new options for patients. Singer is also driven by patient needs, recalling a poignant encounter with a mother asking if he could help her daughter. He acknowledges the significant gap between laboratory success and human treatment but is motivated by the urgent need for better solutions for patients and families.
Zelnik-Manor sees a common thread in these diverse fields: identifying emerging scientific and technological areas that align with real-world needs and investing in them early. The Technion's role, she explains, is not just to discover breakthroughs but to cultivate talent, knowledge, and an ecosystem that enables world-changing innovation. In an era where the line between science fiction and reality blurs, the academy's responsibility is to "spread light."
