Quantum Proteins
Proteins as QuantumField Devices
Exploring where quantum effects shape how proteins work, from enzyme tunnelling to light-driven switches. Advancing collaborative research on protein science, enzymatic reactions, and molecular processes.
Connected to Recent Nobel Prizes
Medicine 2026: Deisseroth, Hegemann & Nagel turned channelrhodopsin, a protein driven by a single photon, into a light switch for neurons. Explore the quantum physics →
Chemistry 2024: Baker, Hassabis & Jumper revolutionized protein design with AlphaFold
Physics 2024: Hopfield & Hinton laid foundations for machine learning that predicts protein structures
But the fundamental quantum physics that makes proteins work remains an open question.
Featured Research
From 1985 Observation to Unified Theory
Two ChemRxiv preprints and the 29-problem programme, spanning a 40-year trajectory from catalytic chemistry to quantum biology
Quantum Network Theory of Catalysis
Unifying Zeolites, Enzymes, and MOFs
Proposes a unified quantum mechanical framework connecting zeolite catalysis, enzymatic reactions and MOF chemistry through shared tunnelling and network-topology principles.
- →Proposes one quantum framework for three catalysis fields
- →Quantum tunneling as the common thread
- →Hypothesis: network topology governs catalytic activity
29 Problems & EDTS
Preprint on Zenodo
Twenty-nine fundamental problems in quantum protein physics with EDTS — a proposed experimental methodology using entangled photon pairs, designed to reach Heisenberg-limited sensitivity.
- →29 problems across 8 domains
- →EDTS could give experimental access to 14 problems
From Catalytic Cracking to Quantum Biology
A 40-Year Perspective
The pioneering 1985 observation that rigid bicyclic systems prohibit hydrogen transfer — which the author now interprets in terms of the geometric requirements of hydrogen tunnelling.
- →"Forbidden" hydrogen transfers in rigid systems
- →Conformational flexibility enables quantum effects
A 40-Year Intellectual Trajectory
From the 1985 doctoral research at the Institut français du pétrole observing quantum tunneling in constrained molecular systems, through the formulation of 29 fundamental problems and EDTS methodology, to the unification of zeolite, enzyme, and MOF catalysis under a single quantum framework.
Research Challenges
The Fundamental Problems
Inspired by Hilbert's famous 23 problems, these 29 open challenges represent the frontier of quantum biology research.
Quantum Tunneling in Enzyme Catalysis
Quantify the tunneling contribution to enzymatic reaction rates across enzyme families
Quantum Corrections to Protein Folding
Do nuclear quantum effects contribute measurably to folding thermodynamics and kinetics?
Electron Transfer in Photosynthesis
What is the nature of coherence in photosynthetic energy transfer, and is it functional?
Quantum Coherence in Olfaction
Do olfactory receptors detect molecular vibrations by inelastic electron tunneling?
Proton Tunneling in DNA Mutations
Does proton tunneling between base pairs contribute significantly to spontaneous mutations?
Quantum Effects in Microtubules
Can tubulin assemblies sustain quantum coherence at physiological temperature?
📈The Programme
⚡Recent Activity
New: 2026 Medicine Nobel — channelrhodopsin and the quantum physics of optogenetics
Oct 2026
Connected to Recent Nobel Prizes
Protein structure prediction and design (Chemistry 2024) and optogenetics (Medicine 2026)
Explore Problems →