A quantum leap in computing began with baby steps at Cleveland Clinic

Cleveland is home to one of world’s most sophisticated pieces of machinery.

IBM’s powerful quantum computer is housed at the Cleveland Clinic as part of the health system’s Discovery Accelerator initiative.

It’s one of only a few dozen of its kind in the world, and researchers are still figuring out how to use it.

Leading the effort is the Clinic’s first chief research information officer, Dr. Lara Jehi.

She's a neurologist who each week still treats patients, while managing research that uses one of the world's most powerful pieces of computing hardware.

Jehi and the Cleveland Clinic birthed the quantum computer in 2021 as part of a 10 year, $100 million partnership with IBM.

Jehi chose the very visible employee cafeteria at the Clinic's Lerner Research Institute to house the quantum system because she wanted to spark ideas among her colleagues.

It sits inside an 11-foot-tall glass cube specially designed to absorb vibrations from passing traffic.

Jehi feels a very personal connection to the quantum computer.

“It’s my baby, " she said, with a laugh. "It took nine months to build it. That's how long it takes to have a baby.”

And Jehi's dreams for the computer mirror those for her own, human children. "I'm raising it so that it can do good in the world,” she said, smiling.