Storage

U Chicago Deploys Web-Scale Storage for Genomic Data Research

• By Leila Meyer
• 04/23/15

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.