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Delaware Intelligent Software
Firm Receives $2.5 Million To Begin Work on BioDefense.
Delegation Works to Make Quantum Leap a Model for the Nation.
NEWARK, DE- Newark-based Quantum Leap Innovations
has received the $2.5 million, secured by the Delaware Congressional
Delegation as part of a Navy contract, to begin developing revolutionary,
lifesaving bio-defense software designed specifically for the First
State. Quantum Leap will now start to develop intelligent software
for an early warning and defense system for chemical, biological
and radiological defense threats.
The Navy contract allows Quantum Leap to pilot the program in Delaware,
bringing cutting-edge bio-defense technology to the state long before
it reaches the rest of the nation. The contract was awarded after
Senators Joe Biden and Tom Carper and Congressman Mike Castle secured
the funding in the FY02 Defense Appropriations.
Quantum Leap's technology will be designed to detect suspicious
agents and disease, closely monitor trends and to develop instantaneous,
individualized plans for first responders and emergency management
officials. Specifically, the system is designed to detect an outbreak;
identify offending chemical or bio-agents and their sources; predict
potential exposure; alert appropriate authorities (such as hospitals,
local government, military and CDC); and provide continuously updated
options and tradeoffs to decision makers. The technology may be
used to track diseases, as well as to protect water supplies and
to monitor unwelcome activity in secure locations.
"This is a great example of what Delaware brings to national
security. Quantum Leap provides the Navy with cutting edge information
systems that will help minimize the threat environment and will
also help mitigate the consequences of a chemical or biological
attack," Biden said. "Companies like Quantum Leap, run
by dedicated professionals who are able to produce excellent and
innovative products at lower costs than major computing companies,
are what gives America the real long-term advantage in the fight
against terrorists and military adversaries."
"Quantum Leap's innovations hold the promise of saving an enormous
number of lives by quickly identifying terrorist threats and coordinating
defensive responses. Their technology is novel and its applications
are lifesaving," said Carper. "With its small size, easy
access to state and emergency planning officials and manageable
data collection, our state is an excellent arena for technology
advances. By giving our state the best system in the nation for
coordinating emergency plans, Quantum Leap is making Delaware a
model for the nation."
"Bioterrorism is one of the greatest threats to the national
security of the United States. Quantum Leap's innovation is the
type of technology our nation needs to respond to the very real
threats of anthrax and small pox as well as the broader issues of
nuclear and chemical warfare," Castle said. This project illustrates
the crucial role intelligent software can play in the antiterrorism
efforts and the capabilities of Delaware high-tech companies and
universities to be major players in that effort."
Quantum Leap's breakthrough technology will monitor information
collected by sensors and health data at hospitals and laboratories
to get as early warning as possible to detect and identify health
outbreaks before they occur. Working closely with the state's first
responders and emergency planning officials. Quantum Leap's initial
technology focus will be on Delaware's needs. The firm started its
Phase 1 contract from Office of Naval research on July 12th, Plans
include the development of an intelligent software infrastructure
and creation of a reality-based demonstration called the "Knowledge
Wall". The Wall will be a visual way of displaying plans of
action that will assist decision makers. The Wall will allow collaboration
among emergency officials and allow interaction via voice command
and laser pointers.
Quantum Leap's software has significant homeland security applications
for the Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) and homeland
defense applications for the United States Navy. The same technology
being developed to track diseases within Delaware can also be used
to survey vessels approaching aircraft carriers in the high seas.
By sensing explosives or biological containments that might be hidden
in container ships and sorting through face, voice recognition,
and other identification data, Quantum Leap's system could be used
to avert situations like the U.S.S. Cole tragedy. The company will
be ready to demonstrate their technology to DEMA and the U.S. Navy
within the next 12 months.
Quantum Leap's plans compliment other innovative biodefense technology
being piloted in Delaware. Delaware's Congressional Delegation has
secured almost $2 million for the development of the Delaware Electronic
Reporting and Surveillance System (DEERS). The database is the nation's
first computerized communicable disease reporting system prepared
for threats of emerging infectious disease and bio-terrorism. Quantum
Leap will coordinate their designs with DEERS, to continuously monitor
cumulative data that is reported through the new database. Intelligent
software will look for relationships and start precalculating plans
of action from which state and federal decision makers can choose.
The technology being developed by Quantum Leap could help Delaware
companies as well by helping them detect, monitor and quickly respond
to unusual situations like accidental spills or sabotage. The company
plans to double the size of its Newark based workforce within the
next year, hiring computer scientists and engineers.
"We are pleased that our software developments have the potential
to greatly benefit Delaware, both by providing valuable tools for
earlier detection and response to terrorist threats and by showcasing
Delaware technology leadership," said Dr. Barry Bowen, Quantum
Leap's Bio-Defense Program Director. "We have a very strong
team to help us on various parts of the program, such as disease
representation, threat identification and collaborative creation
of response plans for crisis managers."
Quantum Leap has significant partnerships with some of the nation's
most innovative experts. The company has recently joined forces
with the The University of Hawaii's Department of Information and
Computer Sciences and Concurrent Technologies Corporation in Johnstown,
PA. Partners for the initial contract include the Potomac Institute
for Policy Studies (Arlington, VA), InfoValley (King of Prussia,
PA), and the Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute
(EOHSI) at Rutgers University and the University of Medicine and
Dentistry of NJ (UMDNJ).
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