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Sci Tech
Super computing and drug discovery
ONGOING PHASE III trials conducted by Bio Numerik, Texas (a pharmaceutical firm involved in rigorous cancer research) is experimenting with administration of higher dosage of chemotherapy without the side effects.
Another research project at the Institute of System Biology, Alaska has scientists working on Post Genomic research, to study the dynamics of cell and its working.
Both the drug design and the cell research projects are being conducted with assistance of Super computers.
If the Bio Numerik project proceeds to the Phase IV trials (tests on human beings), this would be the first time that a drug has been commercially developed using super computing tools, revealed Cray Inc.'s Chief Scientist Burton J.Smith to The Hindu. .
Also, if Bio Numerik were to use the latest Cray XI Super Computer, then drug discovery (phase III stage) would just take two weeks, he said.
"Super computers are allowing us to start on this process. In the case of drug discovery, the cycle time is compressed and productivity increased through super computing tools. Cray enables rational drug design through computational tools,'' explained Dr.Smith.
Besides traditional areas the super computers are increasingly being used by medical research including molecular simulation, genomics and proteomics and bio-informatics.
Preeti Mishra
in Bangalore
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