Summary of Research and Development
Many experimental and observatory equipments have now been connected to super computers. Data Grid Technology has been developed to gather and to securely process huge and various datasets and databases. In addition, a variety of databases are used collaboratively and a large amount of computational resources are needed to process data. We therefore aim to develop a Computer Grid Technology that is able to satisfy all the above requirements of function. This technology can be used as the core technology to realize future Super Computer Network environment. Technically, peta grid technology is developed to process peta byte data by employing distributed computers of peta FLOPS capacity. Osaka University and other relevent institutions are in the progress of developing such a technology to meet the IT needs for its world class research activities in medicine and biology. The core institution carrying out this research project is the Cybermedia Center of Osaka University that is equipped with high capacity computational and network resources. Relevent research institutions and private enterprises also participate as a peripheral research group that are connected by high-speed network. Apart from research activities, the project also includes peta grid technology business development and educational training in bioinformatics. The objectives of this project are two-fold: in silico pharmaceutical research and development based on Biochemistry, InformationScience, Mathematical Chemistry, Physics, Medicine and Pharmacology; and establishment of Super Computer Network core technology to be used in other research fields with similar needs.
Goal of the Project
A dramatic advancement in science and technology has made it possible for us to observe not only microscopic cells but also the brain mechanism using leading-edge, sophisticated analyzers. Additionally, new protein structures and gene information have been made clarified, which may hold clues to our inquiry into the essence of the biological life process and contribute to future medical treatment. This project has been entrusted with the mission of attaining the following three goals: 1) a series of analyzers deployed on a supercomputer network, 2) "data grid technology", which will allow us to achieve total and safe linkage and manipulation among various types of huge databases, and 3) "computing grid technology", which may facilitate truly systematic linkage among the databases and data processing requiring ultra high-sped computing resources.
We have our sights on outcome from the project such as a vast volume of data, as well as the next-generation technology and know-how for computing will not only realize in silico pharmaceutical development and biodynamic elucidation, but also support the establishment of the infrastructure technology for the supercomputer network in other arenas requiring similar technology.
Cooperation with industry and other projects
The BioGrid project is committed to feeding back to industries the results of its R&D projects in the three subject areas below.
And this project is driving forward the R&D projects in collaboration and cooperation with the bio-related institutes and organizations.
  1. Research of intellectual property management
    Investigation of commercial availability of intellectual property, for example, grant of patents or licenses to developed element technologies and systems
  2. Establishment of horizontal cooperation among the R&D projects
    From the aspect of identifying the seeds for research, leading researchers are participating in the R&D projects from the information technology companiesto drive the R&D projects while reflecting cutting-edge technology trends.
  3. Practical evaluation of the core grid system resulted from the BioGrid project
    For the outcome from the project to be successfully applied, it must satisfy the needs of the users. For this reason, a New Drug Development Workshop consisting of experts from seven pharmaceutical companies has been formed, facilitating the R&D projects, while achieving a balance between the seeds and the needs by conducting practical evaluations.
Collaboration with Other Projects

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