USC Expands Genomic Research Options

The University of Southern California has expanded its use of software from NextBio, which develops life sciences research tools. The institution has licensed NextBio Enterprise to enable its faculty and students to store and share private genomic data internally while also tapping into public research.

NextBio maintains a sizeable collection of continuously curated genomic data and enhanced data and literature search functions. The Enterprise edition has additional tools and support for cross-disciplinary collaboration and translational research. For example, users will be able to access the product's APIs to create their own research utilities, import their own data, and interpret it in the context of a semantically integrated library.

A key feature is the ability for researchers to make correlations between their own results and existing genomic data. "This functionality is essential to an institution like USC that emphasizes cross-disciplinary collaboration and the translation of discoveries into meaningful practice," said the company's vice president of engineering, Satnam Alag.

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • Hand holding a stylus over a tablet with futuristic risk management icons

    Why Universities Are Ransomware's Easy Target: Lessons from the 23% Surge

    Academic environments face heightened risk because their collaboration-driven environments are inherently open, making them more susceptible to attack, while the high-value research data they hold makes them an especially attractive target. The question is not if this data will be targeted, but whether universities can defend it swiftly enough against increasingly AI-powered threats.

  • hand typing on laptop with security and email icons

    Copilot Gets Expanded Role in Office, Outlook, and Security

    Microsoft has doubled down on its Copilot strategy, announcing new agents and capabilities that bring deeper intelligence and automation to everyday workflows in Microsoft 365.

  • Graduation cap resting on electronic circuit board

    Preparing Workplace-Ready Graduates in the Age of AI

    Artificial intelligence is transforming workplaces and emerging as an essential tool for employees across industries. The dilemma: Universities must ensure graduates are prepared to use AI in their daily lives without diluting the interpersonal, problem-solving, and decision-making skills that businesses rely on.

  • business man using smart phone in office

    Microsoft Copilot Adds Voice Commands, Teams Collaboration, Local Data Processing

    Microsoft has introduced new features within its Microsoft 365 Copilot offering, aimed at making further foothold in the enterprise, including voice-based interaction, group collaboration tools, and an expansion of in-country data processing.