From Matter Waves to Brain Waves: New Quantum Technologies for Bioimaging
Description
Quantum technologies are emerging as a new frontier for biotech.
From drug discovery and diagnostics to understanding disease at the cellular level, quantum technologies are beginning to unlock biological insights that are difficult to access with today’s tools.
This AusBiotech 2026 satellite event will explore how emerging quantum sensing and imaging technologies are moving from the lab to real-world applications in the life sciences.
Hear from Australian researchers working at the intersection of quantum technologies and biology, and discover what these technologies could mean for pharma, biotech, diagnostics and biomedical research.
Speakers
Dr Daniel McCloskey, The University of Melbourne
Daniel researches diamond-based quantum and optoelectronic sensors for imaging bioelectric and electrochemical signals. His work is opening up new ways to visualise the electrical and chemical activity underlying biological processes, with applications across biomedical research.
Professor Alexander Solntsev, University of Technology Sydney
Alexander is Associate Head (Research) at UTS’s School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, where he leads a nonlinear optics laboratory investigating how light interacts with matter at the microscopic scale. His research spans spectroscopy and quantum optics, including advanced approaches to optical sensing. His work focuses on quantum spectroscopy and imaging, which uses quantum-generated pairs of light particles to probe biological samples in new ways. A key advantage is the ability to illuminate samples using mid-infrared light, which is strongly absorbed by many important biomolecules and can generate characteristic ‘fingerprints’, while only having to detect visible light, which is much more strongly absorbed by modern silicon-based cameras. This technique could enable compact, label-free spectroscopy and imaging of cells and tissues to reveal biochemical information that is difficult to access using conventional methods.
Dr Eliza Rokhsat, Chromos Labs
Eliza is Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Chromos Labs, bringing together physics, chemistry and commercialisation to translate scientific discoveries into new technologies. Chromos is developing diamond-based quantum sensors that can image electrical activity across neuronal networks — without electrodes or genetic modification — offering a new window into brain function and disease.
Dr Eleanor Trimby, The University of Queensland
Eleanor is a postdoctoral researcher in UQ’s Quantum Optics Lab, developing quantum sensing technologies for biomedical applications. Her research is investigating how highly sensitive quantum sensors could change the way concussion and other neurological conditions are detected and understood.
About this event
Talks are followed by networking, drinks and refreshments.
This event is co-presented by QUBIC, the Queensland Government and Quantum Australia.
This is a free event, and conference registration is not required to attend.
The Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Quantum Biotechnology (QUBIC) is building Australia’s national capability in quantum biotechnology, bringing together researchers, industry and government to develop new technologies for drug discovery, diagnostics, biomolecular design and brain imaging. With the potential to create entirely new biotech capabilities and commercial opportunities, QUBIC aims to position Australia at the forefront of this emerging industry.
An official satellite event of the 2026 AusBioTech Conference on the Gold Coast: Australia's biggest week in biotech.
Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity
