NIH–NASA QuSAFE Challenge

2 min readPreparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater) The Quantum-Enabled Predictive Preclinical NAMs for Toxicity and Safety (QuSAFE) Challenge, a collaboration between the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and NASA, advances quantum-enabled sensing for in vitro NAMs, such as organoids and microphysiological systems (MPS), to improve drug safety while reducing animal use. In vitro NAMs, such as organoids and microphysiological systems (MPS), can generate human-relevant data for drug development and safety evaluation. However, conventional assays and imaging are often noisy, invasive, and not sensitive enough. As a result, weak, early, and low-abundance biological signals can go undetected, and destructive measurements make it hard to monitor dynamic processes over time. Quantum-enabled sensing approaches can offer ultra-high sensitivity, improved signal-to-noise performance, and nanoscale resolution, overcoming detection and measurement limitations that today’s approaches can’t reach. The NIH-NASA QuSAFE Challenge directly supports NASA’s Biological and Physical Sciences Division, addressing the need for advanced detection methods that work beyond traditional labs. By leveraging recent advances in sensor-development research communities, the challenge enhances NASA’s space exploration capabilities and benefits science both in space and on Earth. Award: Up to $7.1 million in prizes Submissions Open Date: December 15, 2026 Submissions Close Date: July 27, 2027 For more information including registration, rules, and eligibility, visit: https://www.qusafechallenge.com/