UVA Uses Machine Learning, Quantum Computing to Study Genetic Disease - Scigazette.com

A team from the University of Virginia School of Medicine is leveraging the power of quantum computing to gain better insight into genetic diseases with machine learning. Although quantum computers are still in their infancy, the researchers noted that when they do advance, they could offer computing power on a scale that's unimaginable on traditional computers. "We developed and implemented a genetic sample classification algorithm that is fundamental to the field of machine learning on a quantum computer in a very natural way using the inherent strengths of quantum computers," said Stefan Bekiranov, PhD. "This is certainly the first published quantum computer study funded by the National Institute of Mental Health and may be the first study using a so-called universal quantum computer funded by the National Institutes of Health." Quantum computers can consider significantly more possibilities than traditional computer programs.