The third annual Cleveland Discovery and Innovation Forum, hosted by Cleveland Clinic and IBM, highlighted advances in applying quantum computing and AI to healthcare and life sciences research. The forum brought together global leaders in healthcare, science, and technology to share insights on how advanced computing is accelerating discovery and shaping the future of patient care.
The one-day event, held today on Cleveland Clinic’s main campus, was attended by more than 30 speakers from academia, industry, foundations, venture capital, and government officials. The discussion focused on the growing impact of AI and quantum computing in tackling some of the most complex challenges in healthcare and life sciences research.
“The Cleveland Discovery and Innovation Forum highlighted how AI and quantum computing are advancing research across all stages of disease, from prevention and early detection to treatment,” said Lara Jehi, M.D., chief research and information officer at Cleveland Clinic. “Cleveland Clinic is at the forefront of applying quantum computing to life sciences research. Through this forum and our extensive research efforts, we are helping to define how advanced computing can unlock new scientific insights and ultimately improve the care of patients around the world.”
The forum also highlighted five years of progress made by Cleveland Clinic and IBM’s Discovery Accelerator. Discovery Accelerator is a partnership focused on accelerating the pace of biomedical research through high-performance computing, AI, and quantum computing. Since its launch, Discovery Accelerator has supported more than 50 projects, contributed to multiple peer-reviewed publications, and developed innovative educational curricula aimed at building the skilled workforce of the future.
“As we celebrate the fifth anniversary of our partnership with Cleveland Clinic, we see how quantum and AI can work together to transform biomedical research, modeling molecular interactions, improving machine learning for personalized care, and pushing the boundaries of what is achievable across healthcare and life sciences,” said Dr. Alessandro Crioni, IBM Fellow and Vice President, Algorithms and Applications, IBM Research.
The agenda included keynote addresses, panel discussions, and fireside chats led by executives from Cleveland Clinic and IBM, along with international leaders. Featured speakers include Dr. Eric Isaacs of the Research Corporation for Science Advancement; Curtis Priem, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, NVIDIA Co-Founder. Dr. Alex Shalek, MIT. Sergii Strelchuk, University of Oxford. Dr. Serpil Erzurum, Cleveland Clinic; Dr. Alessandro Clioni, IBM. and Percy Carter of Pfizer.
Sessions included panel discussions on applied quantum computing and its role in building a world-class research and healthcare ecosystem, how AI and quantum computing can realize the potential for personalized care, as well as a fireside conversation on visionary leadership in healthcare and advanced computational techniques.
The forum also showcased projects by Cleveland Clinic and IBM researchers, including recent work modeling proteins made of more than 12,000 atoms, the largest protein structure known to be simulated on a quantum computer. This discovery highlights the growing potential of quantum computers as scientific tools to solve fundamental problems in biology, chemistry, and life sciences.
Several research presentations and updates were shared during the event, highlighting Cleveland Clinic’s steady progress in shaping quantum computing applications in healthcare and building the Ohio Discovery Corridor through the Cleveland Innovation District. These include:
- 2026 Global Quantum + AI Challenge: Details of an international competition launched by Quantum Insider and Cleveland Clinic have been shared. This year-long program is designed to bridge the gap between quantum theory and real-world impact, bringing together companies, startups, and research teams to accelerate the adoption of advanced computing technologies in industries where innovation drives competitive advantage. The title of the Cleveland Clinic challenge is “Unraveling Druggable Targets: Quantum Simulations of Allosteric Signal Propagation.” The challenge will award $200,000 across five enterprise challenges, with $40,000 allocated per challenge. Application is now open: https://quantumaiportal.thequantuminsider.com/
- Cleveland Clinic Quantum Catalysis Program: The latest information about Kipu and this year’s program to provide quantum access to startups. The Kipu project focuses on breakthrough quantum algorithms that simulate protein folding, allowing researchers to better understand diseases and develop new treatments. Earlier this year, the competitive program selected EntangleBio, Polaris Quantum Biotech and Singularity Quantum. Companies selected this year will also receive up to $250,000 from the K5 Tokyo Black Fund, with in-kind payments from the Cleveland Clinic.
