U Chicago Deploys Web-Scale Storage for Genomic Data Research
The University of Chicago has
implemented a Web-scale storage system to support data commons and data clouds
at its Center for Data Intensive
Science (CDIS).
CDIS supports researchers using data science to help solve problems in
biology, medicine and health care. The center is currently focused on cancer
research but is developing data commons to support research into other diseases
such as Alzheimer's and diabetes. The ability to sequence the human genome has
advanced research into diseases and chronic health conditions, but genomic
sequencing generates huge volumes of data. In addition to storing the genomic
data, CDIS information systems need to store researchers' analysis of that
data. Genomic research is further complicated by the fact that different groups
of researchers use different technologies and protocols to store their data.
In an effort to address these challenges, the CDIS has implemented a
Web-scale storage system from Cleversafe. According to information from
the company, Cleversafe is a private cloud platform that can store petabytes or
more of data. The system has made it possible for CDIS to store its large
datasets in a common location where researchers can access them quickly and use
them collaboratively, and it has significantly reduced the time and money
required to analyze the data.
"Bringing data at scale together for the scientific community will help
researchers collaborate and really transform the study of cancer at all
scales," said Piers Nash, director of business development for the CDIS, in a
prepared statement.
About the Author
Leila Meyer is a technology writer based in British Columbia. She can be reached at [email protected].