Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Solid State Physics IAF
At the recent milestone meeting of the BMFTR-funded NeuroQ project, the partners showcased key advancements, including the development of an integrated sensor for exoskeleton control, improvements in NV magnetometry demonstrated with initial heart measurements, new head equipment, a shielded measurement room at Charité, and LTM measurements with enhanced sensitivity limits and dynamic range by over 500-fold. Technical challenges and the next steps were also addressed to transition from lab technology to human applications within the remaining project duration.
From heart measurements to LTM sensor module
The consortium achieved several successes, such as the development of an integrated sensor paired with dedicated electronics transferred to Charité Berlin for testing and exoskeleton control measurements. The University of Stuttgart enhanced fluorescence-based NV magnetometry and conducted initial heart current measurements. Additionally, a new head-carrier system was developed, along with the installation of a shielded room at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin.
A particular highlight is the development of two-medium laser-threshold magnetometry (LTM), which achieves a combined improvement of more than a factor of 500 in both the (shot noise) sensitivity limit and the dynamic range, thereby opening up new possibilities for highly sensitive magnetic measurements.
Noise reduction as a key to clinical applications
Despite these successes, the project partners face technical challenges, particularly in reducing technical noise in the LTM system. Among other things, they are exploring solutions such as stabilizing the pump lasers and improving balancing techniques.
“We have made tremendous progress and laid crucial groundwork in recent months. The focus now is on utilizing the remaining project time to transition from lab technologies to meaningful neural activity measurements on humans. Noise reduction is our top priority,” stated Dr. Jan Jeske, NeuroQ project leader and quantum sensor researcher at Fraunhofer IAF.
Parallel strategies for clinically relevant results
To obtain clinically meaningful measurements within the remaining project timeline, the consortium is pursuing a parallel strategy: It aims to investigate relevant cardiac and brain signals in patients by using NV magnetometry for magnetocardiography (MCG) and vapor cells for magnetoencephalography (MEG) in parallel. The starting point consists of measurements in a laboratory setup in Stuttgart, which will be gradually supplemented by the LTM sensor module. In this way, the technology will be systematically developed from controlled laboratory conditions toward application in clinical settings.
The project meeting was held on May 5, 2026, at Fraunhofer IAF in Freiburg.