Singapore, Nov 29, 2012 - The Agency for Science, Technology and Research's (A*STAR) Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) today announced the launch of a research collaboration with Appistry, a leading US-based provider of high-performance computing and analytics for managing and storing "big data."
"We are excited about this collaboration as it leverages on our computational genomics platform," said Professor Huck Hui NG, GIS executive director. "Through this collaboration, we will develop a pipeline which enables us to analyze next generation sequencing data more effectively."
"Appistry's technology will enable GIS to take a huge amount of data and rapidly advance their analytics and efficiently use their science to improve public health," said Sultan Meghji, Appistry's vice president of product strategy, who is speaking today on life science's "big data" challenge at the World Genome Data Analysis Summit in San Francisco.
GIS strategically focuses on scientific discovery through a fusion of genomic and computational approaches with cell and medical biology. The collaboration is dedicated to accelerating the development of research methods and discoveries in human genome analytics and genomics. GIS aims to act as an Asian hub for collaboration among clinical genomics researchers in many pioneering fields, including clinical diagnostics and cancer biology.
"We expect this collaboration to inspire, enable, and accelerate efforts in the emerging field of complex pedigree and traits analytics and to catalyze discoveries and advance the understanding of this important area of biology," said Prof. Michael Rossbach, head of the Office of Business Development at GIS.
GIS's regional research collaboration with Appistry builds upon Appistry's recent selection as the distributor for The Broad Institute's next generation Genome Analysis Tool Kit (GATK), the world's most widely used software for data processing and variant calling of next-generation sequencing data.
"The push toward translational and personalized medicine requires organizations to wrap their science within systems and applications that can provide actionable results from big data," said Meghji. "Our global partnership with Broad and our regional partnership with GIS better enable our customers to capture the scientific best practices and capabilities they need in an environment that scales to modern throughput demands."
Meghji's presentation at the World Genome Data Analysis Summit can be viewed online at www.appistry.com/wgdas.
About Appistry
Appistry orchestrates solutions to big data problems, and since 2001, the company's fabric technology has empowered organizations and researchers to transform vast data into actionable intelligence. Appistry weaves together high performance computing and analytics to provide the throughput and scale required for diverse applications - from discovering new medical therapies to delivering overnight packages, gaining clarity from financial transactions, or deciphering military satellite images. For more information, please visit www.appistry.com and follow us on Twitter @appistry.
About the Genome Institute of Singapore
The Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) is an institute of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR). It has a global vision that seeks to use genomic sciences to improve public health and public prosperity. Established in 2001 as a centre for genomic discovery, the GIS will pursue the integration of technology, genetics and biology towards the goal of individualized medicine. The key research areas at the GIS include computational & systems biology, stem cell and developmental biology, cancer stem cell biology, cancer therapeutics and stratified oncology, human genetics, infectious diseases, genomic technologies and translational technologies. The genomics infrastructure at the GIS is utilized to train new scientific talent, to function as a bridge for academic and industrial research, and to explore scientific questions of high impact. Please visit www.gis.a-star.edu.sg.
About A*STAR
The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) is the lead agency for fostering world-class scientific research and talent for a vibrant knowledge-based and innovation-driven Singapore. A*STAR oversees 14 biomedical sciences and physical sciences and engineering research institutes, and six consortia & centres, located in Biopolis and Fusionopolis as well as their immediate vicinity. A*STAR supports Singapore's key economic clusters by providing intellectual, human and industrial capital to its partners in industry. It also supports extramural research in the universities, and with other local and international partners. For more information about A*STAR, please visit www.a-star.edu.sg .
Contact:
Deborah Ausman
Appistry
+1-405-612-4728
DeborahA@appistry.com
Winnie Lim
Genome Institute of Singapore, Office of Corporate Communications
+65-6808-8013
limcp2@gis.a-star.edu.sg