Quantum Computing and Genomic Medicine: Bridging Physics, Computer Science, and Healthcare

Abstract

Quantum computing offers unprecedented computational power by exploiting quantum mechanical phenomena such as superposition and entanglement. Genomic medicine, the field concerned with using genomic information for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease, is increasingly data intensive, with vast datasets, complex pattern recognition tasks, and computationally expensive algorithms. This article explores how quantum computing can transform genomic medicine by accelerating sequence alignment, improving variant calling, enabling efficient drug discovery, and facilitating personalized therapy design. While potential breakthroughs abound, there are challenges: quantum hardware limitations, error rates, ethical and privacy implications, and integration into existing healthcare systems. We propose a multidisciplinary framework that unites physics, computer science, and healthcare to realize these potentials. The article concludes with recommended research directions, policy implications in the Pakistani context, and a roadmap toward clinical applications.