UNifying Imaging with QUantum Entanglement (UNIQUE) Innovative Solutions Opening (ISO)

The UNIQUE program is organized around two integrated technical areas (TAs). TA1 (Imaging Core) will focus on the physical systems needed to generate and measure quantum observables in clinically relevant biomedical settings, including advances in quantum-correlated photon production and collection, engineered source materials and nanomaterials, quantum-aware detectors, and other materials and methods to determine whether decoherence and correlation loss can become sources of biological contrast. TA2 (Quantum AI Interpretation and Fusion) will develop a computational foundation for quantum-derived imaging, including physics-informed artificial intelligence, quantum-aware reconstruction, multimodal data fusion, uncertainty quantification, and real-time interpretation of multidimensional quantum observables. The program is an 18-month, 2-phase program. In Phase 1 (9-months), performers will establish feasibility of quantum-derived imaging signals in TA1 and develop foundational AI-driven reconstruction and fusion framework for TA2. During Phase 2 (9-months), performers will demonstrate integrated multidimensional quantum-derived imaging for TA1 and demonstrate unified multidimensional reconstruction and biological interpretation in TA2 work. Proposers must submit a comprehensive proposal addressing both TA1 and TA2.