.png)
3 months ago
2
Newswise — Created by physicists at the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, campus of Rome, this avatar simulates the evolution of metabolism using quantum algorithms and real data on diet, movement, and other lifestyle factors.
For the first time, scientists have applied quantum algorithms to model the full spectrum of biochemical metabolic reactions in the human body, enabling the development of personalized avatars for patients with various diseases, from diabetes to susceptibility to overweight, on which therapies can be virtually tested to identify the most effective treatment. In essence, it is a ‘digital twin’ that learns, adapts, and simulates how our body works when we eat, move, or change our lifestyle.
Named “Quantum Metabolic Avatar,” it was developed by the team led by Professor Giuseppe Maulucci, Associate Professor of Applied Physics and Director of the Metabolic Intelligence Laboratory at the Department of Neuroscience at the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, campus of Rome. The project, published in Expert Systems with Applications, was carried out in collaboration with the UOC Fisica per le Scienze della Vita della Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS , led by Professor Marco De Spirito, who explains: “Quantum computing currently has very few practical applications in the real world, and even fewer in the field of medicine. This project represents one of the first concrete examples of the use of quantum computing on real physiological data, with potential direct implications for human health. It is an achievement that marks not only a scientific advance, but also a step towards personalized, predictive, and intelligent medicine.”
The group includes young researchers from the dell’Università Cattolica e della Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS Cassandra Serantoni, Michele Maria De Giulio, Alessia Riente, and industrial partners involved in the development of digital health technologies (Stefano Capezzone, Rosita Esposito, Fastal S.r.L., and Chirale S.r.L.).
The Quantum Metabolic Avatar is an intelligent model, powered by real data from real people; it is not based on classical artificial intelligence, Professor Maulucci explains. "We used quantum mechanics—quantum computers accessible today via the cloud. Imagine a ‘super-brain’ that doesn't think linearly, but explores many scenarios simultaneously, instantly visualizing all the possible paths our metabolism might take”, he adds.
Daily data is input into the avatar—diet, physical activity, weight variations—and the system predicts where the body is heading up to a week in advance.
It's like a metabolic GPS: instead of showing driving directions, it forecasts your metabolic trajectory. Moreover this system can learn even from a small amount of data, even if the data are incomplete, or noisy—just like in real life. While classical algorithms require clean, structured data- like a train on perfect tracks, quantum algorithms are more like off-road vehicles, navigating uncertainty and discovering hidden paths.
BACKGROUND
If a classical algorithm is like a train running on a single track, exploring only one solution at a time, a quantum algorithm is like a magic train traveling all tracks at once, evaluating all possible solutions simultaneously. This is possible thanks to two core principles of quantum physics: superposition and entanglement, the professor explains. A qubit, the basic unit of information in a quantum computer (the quantum equivalent of a bit), is not limited to a binary state (0 or 1), as in traditional computers, but can exist in a combination of both at once—this is superposition.
Imagine answering all options in a quiz simultaneously, waiting for measurement to reveal the right one. Entanglement, on the other hand, occurs when qubits become interconnected, such that even when separated, changes in one instantly affect the other. Like two instruments in separate rooms playing in perfect harmony—change one note, and the other adjusts instantly. These principles allow quantum models to capture complex, hidden relationships in data that classical models cannot even approximate.
THE STUDY
The team started with real physiological data, such as diet, energy expenditure, and weight fluctuations over seven days.
These inputs are encoded into a ‘quantum state’: —transformed into probability distributions that represent different biological scenarios.
Quantum computers then process this state, producing a set of probabilities that indicate the body’s metabolic direction: For example, it can tell us how much they will weigh in a week's time, or whether they are in a phase where their body tends to accumulate energy or burn it, or whether their lean mass will increase, or whether their microbiota will change," explain the professors.
This is not just a trend repetition—it’s a prediction model that generates parallel futures, allowing us to compare multiple metabolic paths and choose the one most biologically realistic for the individual.
FUTURE PROSPECTS
The ultimate goal is for everyone to have a personalized metabolic avatar— a living, adaptive model of their metabolism.
This digital twin can help us answer complex questions such as 'why does someone gain weight despite eating moderately? Why does another struggle to lose weight despite dieting? Which treatment or diet is best suited to their metabolism? Which diet could protect them from future diseases? 'In this vision, our avatar becomes an ally of precision medicine. No more standard therapies, but tailored interventions, like a custom-made suit for each person's biology. We could also use these models to test virtually— in silico — the effect of new drugs or supplements before they are administered to a patient. Not to replace clinical trials, but to make them faster, safer and more precise."
“We have already tested our avatar on real-world data, collected from people tracked daily with smart scales, wearable devices, and apps. In nearly every case, the quantum model outperformed classical ones in accuracy, especially when the data was incomplete or noisy. This is a strong sign: these systems may truly work in real clinical settings, where data is rarely perfect,” Maulucci explains.
The next steps are exciting. "We aim to expand the avatar to include additional metabolic processes, like glucose, lipid metabolism, and the gut microbiome. We are also building a generalized version that can work even on individuals for whom we don’t have historical data, making it a practical tool for clinicians and patients.”
The Quantum Metabolic Avatar is among the first examples of applying quantum mechanics to real world health data. While classical AI is already present in hospitals, quantum medicine is no longer science fiction—it has already begun.
Original title “Quantum Metabolic Avatar: A digital replica of metabolism enhanced by quantum algorithms”
