Technology and Theory at the Intersection of Quantum Science and Biological Mechanisms

March 2 - 7, 2025

Chairs

and

Vice Chairs

and

Renaissance Tuscany Il Ciocco

Via Giovanni Pascoli

Lucca (Barga), Lucca, Italy

Venue and Travel Information

Conference Description

The Quantum Biology GRC is a premier, international scientific conference focused on advancing the frontiers of science through the presentation of cutting-edge and unpublished research, prioritizing time for discussion after each talk and fostering informal interactions among scientists of all career stages. The conference program includes a diverse range of speakers and discussion leaders from institutions and organizations worldwide, concentrating on the latest developments in the field. The conference is five days long and held in a remote location to increase the sense of camaraderie and create scientific communities, with lasting collaborations and friendships. In addition to premier talks, the conference has designated time for poster sessions from individuals of all career stages, and afternoon free time and communal meals allow for informal networking opportunities with leaders in the field.

Quantum biology is a rapidly growing field that explores the role of quantum phenomena in living systems. From photosynthesis to magnetoreception, quantum effects may have profound implications for understanding and enhancing biological processes and functions. The theme of the 2025 Quantum Biology GRC is “Quantum in Biology, Quantum for Biology”. The conference will feature a broad range of topics that address both the role of quantum phenomena in enabling and enhancing biological function beyond the classical limit, and the applications of cutting-edge quantum technologies and sensing techniques to study biological processes in new regimes and with sensitivity unachievable by existing methodologies. This meeting also aims to look forward and examine the opportunities afforded by biology in engineering systems (biology for quantum) to enhance and exploit quantum phenomena beyond the confines of the existing physics sandbox, and to build new systems and environments that can support quantum technology at the cutting edge.

The conference will foster interdisciplinary collaborations and stimulate new directions of research in quantum biology, aiming to advance our fundamental understanding of life and its origins and explore potential applications for health, medicine, and technology. In particular, the conference's key focus will be building and strengthening communication between different subdisciplines, breaking down existing language limitations and entrenched viewpoints.

The Quantum Biology GRC is a unique opportunity for scientists of all career stages to interact and exchange ideas in a friendly and stimulating environment. The conference will include invited talks from leading experts, poster sessions, and ample time for informal discussions and networking. The conference will also feature a Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) for early-career researchers, which will take place before the main conference and provide a platform for presenting and receiving feedback on their work, as well as mentoring and career development activities. The Quantum Biology GRC and GRS welcome participants from all backgrounds and disciplines who share a common interest in quantum biology. We hope to see you at the 2025 Quantum Biology GRC!

Related Meeting

This GRC will be held in conjunction with the "Quantum Biology" Gordon Research Seminar (GRS). Those interested in attending both meetings must submit an application for the GRS in addition to an application for the GRC. Refer to the associated GRS program page for more information.

Conference Program

Sunday
2:00 pm - 9:00 pm	Arrival and Check-in
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm	Dinner
7:30 pm - 7:40 pm	Introductory Comments by GRC Staff / Welcome and Introduction from the Chairs
7:40 pm - 9:30 pm	Keynote Session: Quantum Biology: Experiment and Theory Discussion Leader:
7:40 pm - 8:00 pm	Introduction by Discussion Leader
8:00 pm - 8:35 pm	"Photosynthetic Energy Transfer: Design Principles and Questions Illustrated by the Photosystem II Supercomplex"
8:35 pm - 8:45 pm	Discussion
8:45 pm - 9:20 pm	"Effect of Chirality-Induced Spin Selectivity on Photogenerated Radical Pairs in DNA Hairpins"
9:20 pm - 9:30 pm	Discussion
Monday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
9:00 am - 12:30 pm	Photons in Quantum Biology Discussion Leader:
9:00 am - 9:15 am	Introduction by Discussion Leader
9:15 am - 9:40 am	"Photoinduced Quantum Dynamics and Non-Linear X-Ray Spectroscopy in Bio-Systems: The NADH and Retinal Chromophore Cases"
9:40 am - 9:50 am	Discussion
9:50 am - 10:00 am	"Quantum Optical Mega-Networks in Biological Architectures, and the Computational Capacity of Life"
10:00 am - 10:05 am	Discussion
10:05 am - 10:15 am	"Nano and Micro-Fluidic Circuits for the Enhanced Measurement of Non-Trivial Quantum Mechanical Effects in Biological Systems"
10:15 am - 10:20 am	Discussion
10:20 am - 10:50 am	Coffee Break
10:50 am - 11:15 am	"Quantum Metrology in Ultrafast Spectroscopy"
11:15 am - 11:25 am	Discussion
11:25 am - 11:50 am	"Quantum Physics of Biology: From Photons to Physiology"
11:50 am - 12:00 pm	Discussion
12:00 pm - 12:10 pm	"Non-Chemical Communication During Senescence: Evidence for UPE Signalling Between Mitochondria"
12:10 pm - 12:15 pm	Discussion
12:15 pm - 12:25 pm	"Getting Fluorescent Nanoprobes to Work in Complex Biological Environments"
12:25 pm - 12:30 pm	Discussion
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm	Lunch
1:30 pm - 4:30 pm	Free Time
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm	The GRC Power Hour™ The GRC Power Hour™ is designed to address the interests and needs of all scientists and the challenges they face in their careers. Specifically, the program promotes meaningful conversations amongst colleagues of all career stages about barriers to career advancement and strategies to support the professional growth of all members of the community. The GRC Power Hour™ is open to all conference participants. Organizers: and
4:30 pm - 6:00 pm	Poster Session
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm	Quantum Tunneling Discussion Leader:
6:00 pm - 6:15 pm	Introduction by Discussion Leader
6:15 pm - 6:40 pm	"Tunnelling in Enzyme Catalysed Reactions"
6:40 pm - 6:50 pm	Discussion
6:50 pm - 7:15 pm	"To Tunneling and Beyond: Investigations of the Oxidation of Fatty Acids by Lipoxygenases"
7:15 pm - 7:25 pm	Discussion
7:25 pm - 7:35 pm	"Nuclear Quantum Effects in the Guanine-Thymine Wobble Misincorporation via Tautomerism"
7:35 pm - 7:40 pm	Discussion
7:40 pm - 7:50 pm	"Bridging Quantum Biology and Drug Discovery: Investigating Vibrationally Assisted Electron Tunneling for Novel Therapeutic Insights"
7:50 pm - 7:55 pm	Discussion
7:55 pm - 8:00 pm	General Discussion
8:00 pm - 9:00 pm	Dinner
Tuesday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
8:30 am - 9:00 am	Group Photo
9:00 am - 12:30 pm	Energy Transfer and Ultrafast Measurements Discussion Leader:
9:00 am - 9:15 am	Introduction by Discussion Leader
9:15 am - 9:40 am	"Quantum Mimics and a Solution to the Decoherence Problem in Quantum Biology"
9:40 am - 9:50 am	Discussion
9:50 am - 10:00 am	"Electronic Energy Hopping Inside and Among Proteins"
10:00 am - 10:05 am	Discussion
10:05 am - 10:15 am	"Towards a Multireference-Multiscale Description of Photosynthetic Pigment-Protein Complexes"
10:15 am - 10:20 am	Discussion
10:20 am - 10:50 am	Coffee Break
10:50 am - 11:15 am	"Quantum Dynamics of Excited State Proton Transfer in Green Fluorescent Protein"
11:15 am - 11:25 am	Discussion
11:25 am - 11:50 am	"Quantum Biology in Fluorescent Proteins and Discussion of Biological Quantum Sensing"
11:50 am - 12:00 pm	Discussion
12:00 pm - 12:10 pm	"Using Ultrafast Spectroscopy to Uncover the Dynamics of Quantum Coherent Energy Transfer in Venus and Ametrine Tandem Dimers"
12:10 pm - 12:15 pm	Discussion
12:15 pm - 12:25 pm	"Non-Perturbative Exciton Transfer Rate Analysis of the Fenna-Matthews-Olson Photosynthetic Complex Under Reduced and Oxidised Conditions"
12:25 pm - 12:30 pm	Discussion
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm	Lunch
1:30 pm - 4:30 pm	Free Time
4:30 pm - 6:00 pm	Poster Session
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm	Biomedicine Discussion Leader:
6:00 pm - 6:15 pm	Introduction by Discussion Leader
6:15 pm - 6:40 pm	"Quantifying Metabolism with Dissolution Dynamic Nuclear Polarisation: From Hamiltonian to Homo sapiens"
6:40 pm - 6:50 pm	Discussion
6:50 pm - 7:15 pm	"Calculating Covalent Inhibition Using Quantum Chemistry, Hybrid QM/MM and Quantum Computing"
7:15 pm - 7:25 pm	Discussion
7:25 pm - 7:35 pm	"Quantitative Differences in Cellular Effects Between Isolated Sweep Field and Radiofrequency Application in Therapeutic Nuclear Magnetic Resonance"
7:35 pm - 7:40 pm	Discussion
7:40 pm - 7:50 pm	"Quantum Sensing of MicroRNAs with Nitrogen-Vacancy Centers in Diamond"
7:50 pm - 7:55 pm	Discussion
7:55 pm - 8:00 pm	General Discussion
8:00 pm - 9:00 pm	Dinner
Wednesday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
9:00 am - 12:30 pm	Magnetoreception Discussion Leader:
9:00 am - 9:15 am	Introduction by Discussion Leader
9:15 am - 9:40 am	"A Non-Canonical Mechanism That May Support Magnetosensitivity"
9:40 am - 9:50 am	Discussion
9:50 am - 10:00 am	"Simulated RYDMR Spectra of Candidate Magnetically Sensitive Radical Pairs in Cryptochrome"
10:00 am - 10:05 am	Discussion
10:05 am - 10:15 am	"Magnetic Field and Magnetic Isotope Effects in Microtubule Formation"
10:15 am - 10:20 am	Discussion
10:20 am - 10:50 am	Coffee Break
10:50 am - 11:15 am	"Mechanism of Avian Magnetoreception Studied by Animal Detected Magnetic Resonance"
11:15 am - 11:25 am	Discussion
11:25 am - 11:50 am	"Engineered Magnetosensitive Proteins for Cell Behavior Modulation"
11:50 am - 12:00 pm	Discussion
12:00 pm - 12:10 pm	"Low Magnetic Fields Stimulate Cardiac Mitochondrial Bioenergetics with a Bell-Shaped Response, Possibly Through the Radical Pair Mechanism"
12:10 pm - 12:15 pm	Discussion
12:15 pm - 12:25 pm	"Verification of the Radical Pair Theory of Magnetoreception in Honey Bees"
12:25 pm - 12:30 pm	Discussion
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm	Lunch
1:30 pm - 4:30 pm	Free Time
4:30 pm - 6:00 pm	Poster Session
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm	Quantum Sensing Discussion Leader:
6:00 pm - 6:15 pm	Introduction by Discussion Leader
6:15 pm - 6:40 pm	"Quantum Probes for the Cellular Nano-Universe: NV-Diamond Sensing in Biological Systems"
6:40 pm - 6:50 pm	Discussion
6:50 pm - 7:15 pm	"Quantum Sensing in Clinical Samples"
7:15 pm - 7:25 pm	Discussion
7:25 pm - 7:35 pm	"Activating Quantum Advantage in Raman Microscopy"
7:35 pm - 7:40 pm	Discussion
7:40 pm - 7:50 pm	"Molecular Quantum Nanosensors Functioning in Living Cells"
7:50 pm - 7:55 pm	Discussion
7:55 pm - 8:00 pm	General Discussion
8:00 pm - 9:00 pm	Dinner
Thursday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
8:30 am - 9:00 am	Business Meeting Nominations for the Next Vice Chair(s); Complete the GRC Evaluation Forms; Election of the Next Vice Chair(s)
9:00 am - 12:30 pm	Biological Radicals and Spin Discussion Leader:
9:00 am - 9:15 am	Introduction by Discussion Leader
9:15 am - 9:40 am	"Singlet Exciton Fission in Photosynthesis"
9:40 am - 9:50 am	Discussion
9:50 am - 10:00 am	"Low-Intensity Static Magnetic Fields Coupled with Green Light Cause Mitochondrial Fragmentation and ROS Generation"
10:00 am - 10:05 am	Discussion
10:05 am - 10:15 am	"Investigating Electron Spin Effects in Biological Systems Using Magnetic Particles"
10:15 am - 10:20 am	Discussion
10:20 am - 10:50 am	Coffee Break
10:50 am - 11:15 am	"Does Altered Electron Transfer in Cryptochromes Have an Influence on its Magnetic Field Sensitivity"
11:15 am - 11:25 am	Discussion
11:25 am - 11:50 am	"Effects of Removing the Geomagnetic Field on Embryo Development"
11:50 am - 12:00 pm	Discussion
12:00 pm - 12:10 pm	"Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Exposure Downregulates Acute Pulmonary Inflammation and Cellular Reactive Oxygen Species"
12:10 pm - 12:15 pm	Discussion
12:15 pm - 12:25 pm	"Radical Pair Mechanism Predictions: Weak Magnetic Field Effects on Superoxide in Regenerating Planarians"
12:25 pm - 12:30 pm	Discussion
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm	Lunch
1:30 pm - 4:30 pm	Free Time
4:30 pm - 6:00 pm	Poster Session
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm	Expanding the Domain of Quantum Biology Discussion Leader:
6:00 pm - 6:15 pm	Introduction by Discussion Leader
6:15 pm - 6:40 pm	"Effects of Li Isotopes on Neuronal Function: From Brain Tissues to Ion Channels"
6:40 pm - 6:50 pm	Discussion
6:50 pm - 7:15 pm	"Engineering Quantum Effects in Light Harvesting: Lessons from Quantum Biology"
7:15 pm - 7:25 pm	Discussion
7:25 pm - 7:35 pm	"Advancing Quantum Technologies for Real-Time Neural Activity Monitoring in Humans"
7:35 pm - 7:40 pm	Discussion
7:40 pm - 7:50 pm	"Unlocking Neuronal Modulation: Optical Control of Charge Transfer in Ferritin-Gold Nanoparticle Systems"
7:50 pm - 7:55 pm	Discussion
7:55 pm - 8:00 pm	Closing Remarks
8:00 pm - 9:00 pm	Dinner
Friday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
9:00 am	Departure

Contributors

This material is based upon work supported by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research under award number FA9550-25-1-0085. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Air Force.

This material is based upon work supported by Alfred P. Sloan Foundation under Grant No. G-2025-25165

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