From itumeztr@sariyer.cc.itu.edu.tr Tue Mar 4 11:34:35 1997 Date: Fri, 24 Jan 1997 17:56:21 +0200 (EET) From: ITU Mezunlari Dernegi Haber Dagitim Merkezi To: ** ITUMD ** ISTANBUL TEKNIK UNIVERSITESI MEZUNLARI DERNEGI ULUSLARARASI KURULUSU Subject: SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING NEWS (fwd) -- U. OF WASHINGTON RECEIVES IBM GRANT FOR RS/6000 SP PURCHASE 01.24.97 ============================================================================= http://ike.engr.washington.edu/ Waltham, Mass. -- IBM has awarded the University of Washington's Computer Science and Engineering and Molecular Biotechnology departments funding through its Shared University Research (SUR) program to purchase an IBM RS/6000 SP supercomputer for research into prostate cancer research and human genetics. Emphasis will be placed on utilizing the machine for DNA sequence assembly and DNA and protein analysis. The purchase of an IBM RS/6000 supercomputer will complement the more than forty RS/6000 computers currently in use in the Computer Science and Engineering Department at the University of Washington. "The applications of the research that this grant makes possible are immense," said Dr. Leroy Hood, Gates Professor and chair of the Department of Molecular Biotechnology, University of Washington. "Genetic mapping gives us the ability to forecast predisposition to diseases. A paradigm shift has transformed biology into an information science making it dependent on powerful computers like the RS/6000 SP." Hood is one of the founders of the Human Genome Project. "At the University of Washington, we maximize the roles of technology and computers in the study of biological systems," according to Dr. Richard Karp, professor of Computer Science and Engineering and adjunct professor of Molecular Biotechnology, University of Washington. "The growing use of computations in modeling and large scale data gathering and analysis makes supercomputing indispensable." Karp is a 1996 recipient of the National Medal of Science for his studies of computational complexity. "With matching funds from the University of Washington, four University research projects will benefit immediately from IBM's grant: Genetic Linkage Studies -- as part of the Prostate Cancer Consortium, seven scientists from five different institutions will screen 3000 individuals with 400 genetic markers. Homology Searches -- large numbers of cDNAs are being sequenced daily in the Molecular Biotechnology department and the Genome Center at the University of Washington. Each of these is searched against a database to discover similarities with known sequences. Sequence Assembly -- large sequence assembly programs that are used at the leading sequencing centers can require more memory than desktop workstations provide. The RS/6000 SP platform overcomes this limitation. Protein Sequence Comparisons -- sophisticated sequence analysis methods, such as identifying recurring local sequence patterns in proteins, require large amounts of computational power. "IBM is committed to long-term collaboration with higher education institutions such as the University of Washington," said Anne-Lee Verville, general manager of IBM's Worldwide Education Industry. "When advanced technology is applied to critical research, like medical research, the impact is significant. Our higher education clients continually provide feedback and ideas on ways to improve the customized solutions we provide." The RS/6000 SP will be purchased by the University using a combination of funds from the Shared University Research grant program, discounted educational pricing from IBM and matching funds from the University of Washington. IBM initiated the SUR grants in 1992 to promote cooperative research between IBM and selected research institutions. The IBM Higher Education home page is located at: http://ike.engr.washington.edu/ ************************************************************************** ----- End Included Message -----