India Unveils Quantum Microscope and 1st Liquid Helium Cryogenic Facility at IIT Bombay, Pioneering Cancer Diagnosis Breakthroughs

India has inaugurated its first Liquid Helium Cryogenic Facility at IIT Bombay, alongside advances in quantum sensing technologies, which are expected to play a transformative role in medical imaging and cancer diagnosis.

Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated the Liquid Helium Facility at IIT Bombay, calling it a milestone in India’s quantum ecosystem. The facility includes a helium recovery system that reduces cryogenic experiment costs to one-tenth while conserving helium, a rare global resource.

The Minister dedicated the facility to the nation and reviewed India’s first indigenous quantum sensing and imaging platforms. Among them was QMagPI, a portable magnetometer capable of detecting ultra-low magnetic fields at the nanotesla scale.

Quantum Lab at #IITBombay, supported by the Department of Science & Technology (#DST) under the National Quantum Mission #NQM, is the first of its kind in the country.

Quantum Diamond Microscope and Quantum MagPi are cutting edge breakthroughs with diverse applications,… pic.twitter.com/nki3Wi6ZoU

— Dr Jitendra Singh (@DrJitendraSingh) November 24, 2025

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Key highlights of the announcement

• Liquid Helium Cryogenic Facility: India’s first such installation, dedicated at IIT Bombay, enables ultra-low temperature experiments essential for quantum research.
• Quantum Microscope Potential: Quantum sensing breakthroughs at IIT Bombay are being positioned as tools for high-resolution medical imaging, which could significantly improve early cancer detection.
• Government Backing: Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasized that this initiative reflects India’s commitment to building a strong ecosystem in quantum science, cryogenics, advanced materials, and next-generation computing.
• Cancer Diagnosis Applications: Quantum microscopes, when paired with cryogenic environments, can reduce noise and enhance sensitivity, allowing researchers to observe biological samples at unprecedented resolution. This could lead to earlier and more accurate cancer diagnostics compared to conventional imaging.

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Why this matters

• Medical Breakthroughs: Traditional microscopes often struggle with resolution limits. Quantum microscopes, leveraging entangled photons and cryogenic cooling, can surpass these barriers.
• Cryogenics in Healthcare: Liquid helium cooling stabilizes quantum sensors, making them reliable for clinical applications. This is crucial for biopsy-free cancer detection and precision medicine.
• Global Competitiveness: India joins the ranks of countries investing heavily in quantum-enabled healthcare, positioning itself as a leader in quantum medical technology.

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Challenges and next steps

• Infrastructure Costs: Cryogenic facilities are expensive to maintain, requiring continuous helium supply and specialized expertise.
• Clinical Translation: Moving from lab-based quantum sensing to hospital-ready diagnostic tools will demand regulatory approvals, clinical trials, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Talent Pipeline: India will need to train more quantum engineers, medical physicists, and biotechnologists to fully harness this innovation.

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Broader implications

This development is not just about cancer diagnosis—it signals India’s ambition to integrate quantum technologies into healthcare, computing, and materials science. If successful, quantum microscopes could revolutionize how diseases are detected and treated, while cryogenic facilities will serve as the backbone for future quantum computing and sensing ecosystems.