Cloud computing is a key component on the path to personalised medicine
October 18, 2012
Grazed from MTB Europe. Author: Dr. James Coffin.
When scientists embarked on the 13-year journey to map the human genome in 1990, they envisioned a future where the knowledge of DNA would aid in the diagnosis, treatment and even prevention of thousands of diseases and disorders.
Fast forward to 2012 and that dream is closer to reality thanks to ongoing advances at the nexus of high-performance computing and genomics research. Though we have yet to identify cures for diseases such as cancer and AIDS, personalised treatments based on a patient’s molecular makeup — as opposed to a “one size fits all” approach — are optimising and extending lives…
An essential element to moving forward in the field of personalised medicine is cloud computing technology. The cloud is a future-ready infrastructure that makes it possible to create a healthcare “system” for applied medical research. This system — in which information is secure but accessible to those who need it for analysing, selecting, and administering treatments — streamlines administration, enhances the quality of care and ultimately supports personalised medicine…
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