Reducing scan times for MRIs with quantum technologies

MRI scans are critical for non-invasive diagnosis but can take up to 45 minutes, limiting accessibility for patients with disabilities, anxiety, or urgent medical needs. Dr. Sadegh Raeisi (PhD ’14), co-founder and CEO of Foqus Technologies, is aiming to reduce scan times to just five minutes using software powered by quantum algorithms and machine learning.  

Foqus' technology interfaces with existing MRI workstations, extracting quantum entropy to produce stronger signals and smarter scans. This allows for faster imaging, early disease detection, and improved accessibility—especially in underserved communities.

The innovation, rooted in Raeisi’s PhD work at the Institute for Quantum Computing, has already been tested on over 20,000 images and is undergoing FDA approval. With support from Waterloo’s Velocity incubator and a pilot project at Robarts Research Institute, Foqus is advancing toward global adoption.