Special
Features:
SUN POWERS THE BLUEPRINT
INITIATIVE
WITH GRID CLUSTERS
Sun Microsystems Inc and the Blueprint Initiative research program at Mount
Sinai Hospital's (MSH) Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute in Toronto
announced that the standard setting Biomolecular Interaction Network Database
(bind.ca) is powered by Sun technology.
The Blueprint Initiative has acquired more than $5 million in Sun hardware,
software and storage to support BIND and related bionformatics tools. The
Blueprint Initiative builds its Web services infrastructure with Sun
technology because of its scalability, Sun's customer-focused response,
expertise in life sciences and large global community of computational biology
customers.
A grid cluster of Sun Fire servers including six Sun Fire V880 servers,
four Sun Fire 280R servers, and two Sun Fire V480 servers are powered by
UltraSPARC III processors running the Solaris Operating Environment.
In addition, the Blueprint Initiative will leverage several open
integratable products from the Sun Open Network Environment (Sun ONE) software
portfolio to design, implement and manage its web services and provide its
user community with access to Web-based resources.
From smart-card enabled Sun Ray 100 thin clients, trainees will have access
to bioinformatics software applications and resources like the SeqHound
bioinformatics database platform.
To manage database submissions, the Blueprint Initiative is using JAXB
(Java) Architecture for XML Binding). JAXB will allow Java technology
developers to deliver and maintain high-performance XML-enabled applications
with a minimum of development effort. The Blueprint Initiative also uses
Foundry Networks' JetCore based BIGIRON systems with 10 Gigabit links to
inter-connect the Sun Fire servers and Sun StorEdge disk arrays campuses to
its existing high- performance computing cluster at MSH.
This processing power is supported by 24 terabytes of Sun StorEdge disk
arrays managed by Sun StorEdge Performance Suite and Sun Management Center 3.0
software.
"Sun's vision and strategy of network computing echoes our vision for
computational biology by providing access to resources, anytime, anywhere and
from any device. While most people think that DNA is the blueprint of life,
our Blueprint Initiative is trying to collect information from scientists
around the world about how proteins and other molecules interact and assemble
into living cells.
Building databases of molecular assembly information has become the focal
point of proteomic research around the world. BIND enables researchers to
leverage each other's experience to advance research in human health and
medicine," says Dr. Christopher Hogue, the scientific leader of the Blueprint
Initiative.
"With its open standards, we knew Sun would be the right partner to assist
us to quickly bring the database to life. Sun Java technology resources have
already brought us significantly ahead of schedule in releasing the new BIND
data submission system, and we look forward to working closely with Sun
software engineers."
Sun technology provides the necessary infrastructure to power the Blueprint
Initiative's Biomolecular Interaction Network Database (BIND), which is a
database designed to store full descriptions of the interactions, molecular
complexes and pathways of the proteins that make up all life.
BIND is a growing repository of data on how proteins interact and control
cellular life, and will benefit researchers in proteomics - the study of
protein interactions. The Blueprint Initiative takes contributions from
scientists worldwide to create a comprehensive repository of rich, online
resources for scientific innovation that is designed to assist in the
development of better treatments for disease.
Data is submitted to the repository online by researchers globally and then
validated by the Blueprint Initiative before being posted live to provide
increased research collaboration.
"With extensive experience in computational biology dating back to the
early 1990s, Sun has a clear understanding of the processing power required by
researchers. Our Life Sciences vision resonates with innovators like the
founders of the Blueprint Initiative," says Kim Jones, vice president, Global
Education and Research for Sun Microsystems.
"Sun develops best-in-class solutions upon which our customers, including
thought-leaders like Dr. Hogue, innovate."
"Research and development are the catalysts for the future of the Canadian
economy. The work of Dr. Hogue and his team are poised to further enhance
Canada's reputation for research excellence," says Stéphane Boisvert,
President, Sun Microsystems of Canada Inc. "Sun is proud to leverage its Life
Sciences expertise and leading-edge technology to help launch this important
scientific endeavour."
About The Blueprint Initiative And Mount Sinai Hospital
The Blueprint Initiatve at the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute in
Toronto's Mount Sinai Hospital is operating and curating the Biomolecular
Interaction Network Database (BIND). The database is growing to become the
world's repository of data and research into the comprehensive source of
molecular interactions and reactions in the human organism and other organisms
studied by scientists.
This information will help scientists worldwide understand how the
molecular complexity inside cells assembles into life - the true "blueprint"
of life. Integrating information from the human genome project and many other
projects, the Blueprint Initiative will take DNA sequence to the next level -
proteomics and onward to systems biology with the ultimate goal of providing
systems capable of modeling cells, enabling a comprehensive understanding of
the causes of diseases and helping to identify multiple targets for
treatment.
The Blueprint Initiative provides open source bioinformatics solutions like
the SeqHound high-performance bioinformatics database platform, BINDBlast and
PreBIND, as well as other tools that help scientists use the database in their
research.
Research Institute (SLRI) at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto is one of the
world's leading centres for biomedical research. The Institute is part of
Mount Sinai Hospital, an internationally recognized 440-bed acute care
academic health centre affiliated with the University of Toronto. SLRI has 513
research, administrative and support staff, 100,000 square feet of laboratory
space and a 25,000 square foot pre-clinical research lab.
Mount Sinai Hospital is recognized nationally and internationally for its
excellence in the provision of compassionate patient care, teaching and
research. Its key priority programs are Women's and Infant's Health, Surgical
Subspecialties and Oncology, Internal Medicine and Subspecialties, and the
Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute. It is a University of Toronto-affiliated
patient care, teaching and research centre.
About Sun Microsystems of Canada Inc
Sun Microsystems of Canada Inc, a subsidiary of Sun Microsystems Inc, is
headquartered in Markham, Ontario. The company, which employs more than 550
persons, has offices in Montreal, Ottawa, Calgary, Vancouver and Victoria. Sun
products and services are also available through Sun Authorized Independent
Sales Organizations and iForce[SM] System Providers across Canada. For more
information,
About Sun Microsystems Inc
Since its inception in 1982, a singular vision -- "The Network Is The
Computer[TM]" - has propelled Sun Microsystems Inc to its position as a
leading provider of industrial-strength hardware, software and services that
make the Net work. Sun can be found in more than 100 countries.
http://www.bind.ca
http://sun.com
http://www.mshri.on.ca
http://www.mtsinai.on.ca
http://www.blueprint.org
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