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 26 March 2007
ClusterVision Provides Compute Power to the Alma-Grid
Three Countries, Four Universities, Four Clusters
ClusterVision, specialist in Linux supercomputer clusters, has supplied the high performance compute infrastructure for the Alma-Grid, a grid that connects four universities in three countries to boost life sciences research and collaboration between the universities and the local biotech industry.
The Universities of Liège and Hasselt in Belgium, the University of Aachen in Germany and the University of Maastricht in the Netherlands will use the grid to provide a "virtual laboratory" for research in the areas of genomics, proteomics, bioinformatics and biotechnology. The virtual laboratory will make it easy for biotech companies to send samples for analysis or have experiments carried out in any Alma-Grid partner centre. Companies will also have access, from their own laboratories, to a whole set of genomic, proteomic and transcriptomic databases and computer tools (bioinformatics; statistics; data mining; experiment design; image analysis; structure, process, and system modelling) and to the combined computational power of all four centres.
The initial installations at the four sites use single- and dual-core AMD Opteron™ processors, large NAS storage systems and Ethernet networks. The installations will be further expanded later this year to substantially increase their compute power. The software used to manage the clusters in the grid will be the Linux-based ClusterVisionOS™ cluster operating system and software environment. The main software tool in the virtual laboratory environment will be the Sapphire™ Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) from LabVantage.
"The LIMS and Grid Computing facilities of the Alma-Grid are the primary infrastructure needed in the Euregio Meuse-Rhine in order to serve -omics scientists and the biotech industry in a fully efficient way. They are based on the most advanced software and hardware technology available and will allow highly efficient circulation and processing of biological samples and data among the four geno-centers of Liège, Aachen, Maastricht and Hasselt.", says Dr Andre Renard, professor at the University of Liège and president of the Alma-Grid.
Dr Louis Wehenkel, professor at the University of Liège and coordinator of the Alma-Grid, comments on the role of ClusterVision: "The four clusters from ClusterVision form the computational heart of the Alma-Grid, enabling scientists and biotech industry to perform complex calculations within minutes rather than hours or days".
About Alma-Grid
The Alma-grid is a two-year project between four leading research institutes at four universities in the Euregio Meuse-Rhine: GIGA at the University of Liège, GCM at the University of Maastricht, IMB at the University of Aachen and BIOMED at the University of Hasselt. Alma-Grid is co-funded by INTERREG III (50%) and by the four respective regions of the partner universities.
About GIGA, Liège
GIGA is the Interdisciplinary Cluster for Applied Geno-proteomics of Liège University, Belgium. It specialises in genoproteomics applied to biomedical research. Located within the University Hospital complex, it boasts a unique structure integrating four axes:
- The Centre of Biomedical Integrative Genoproteomics (CBIG), a multidisciplinary academic research centre (280 scientists), whose primary focus is genoproteomics applied to cancer and inflammation.
- Core facilities in bioinformatics, genomics, proteomics, transcriptomics, transgenics (mouse and zebrafish) and protein production.
- GIGA Espace Enterprises (GEE), host and incubator for biomedical companies.
- A biotechnology training centre, dedicated to continuing education for career development.
With its vast range of expertise, skills and know-how, GIGA acts as a hinge between academic research and bio-business.
About GCM, Maastricht
Maastricht University is the youngest and fastest-growing university in the Netherlands. Its Faculty of Medicine encompasses seven research institutes devoted to different themes. In recent years, the internationally renowned research institutes GROW (Growth and Development, Oncology), CARIM (Cardiovascular Research), NUTRIM (Nutrition and Toxicology), and CAPHRI (Care and Public Health) and the Academic Hospital Maastricht (azM) have invested heavily in life science research and molecular medicine. Investments have supported the emergence of state-of-the-art infrastructures, notably proteomics and (mouse) transgenics facilities and the Genome Centre Maastricht. This centre integrates genomics research and know-how, core facilities (genotyping, gene expression profiling and sequencing), and bioinformatics to create an optimal environment for genomics research, services, and training. BioPartner Centre Maastricht, a "Life Sciences Incubator", provides the link with biomedical and biotechnology companies.
About IMB, Aachen
The Institute of Molecular Biotechnology (IMB, Aachen University, Germany) is devoted to high-quality research and education. Together with other medical, life science and engineering institutes within and outside Aachen University, IMB and its core facilities take part in diversified and challenging research projects. They also offer services to research centres and bio-businesses. IMB specialises in the development of new pharmaceuticals and molecular medicines, in the production of novel diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines, and in plant engineering for crop improvement (creating pathogen-resistant and stress-tolerant crop plants). The institute places emphasis on the creation of new tools in molecular biotechnology, with a view to making safer and cheaper 2nd- and 3rd-generation molecular medicines available worldwide. The Institute boasts state-of-the-art facilities for producing valuable molecules in microbes, animal cells and plants, and by Molecular Farming. It is well equipped for applied research exploiting systems biology, high-throughput imaging, proteomics, structural biology, bioinformatics and virology.
About BIOMED, Hasselt
The Biomedical Research Institute (BIOMED, Hasselt University, Belgium) is a young, dynamic, multidisciplinary group of biomedical research laboratories focusing mainly on the neurosciences. The research institute also organises courses in medicine and biomedical sciences for the university. BIOMED collaborates closely with other Hasselt University institutes, particularly in the fields of biosensor development (with IMO, the Materials Research Institute), plant proteomics (with CMK, the Environmental Sciences Institute), biostatistics and bioinformatics (with CenStat, the Statistics Centre), and database management research (with the Informatics Department's Theoretical Computer Science Group). This research exploits core facilities and state-of-the-art infrastructures for applications in genomics (genotyping, expression profiling), proteomics (mass spectrometry, antibody development, phage display), electrophysiology and microscopy, and also for clinical trials. The same infrastructures and facilities support BIOMED's offer of collaboration and services to other academic research groups, hospitals and industry.
About ClusterVision
ClusterVision is specialist in the design, implementation and support of small- and large-scale computer clusters. Their clustering technology provides a cost-effective alternative to traditional supercomputers by connecting multiple computers to form a unified powerful computing system. ClusterVision's team of experts has designed and built some of the largest and most complex computational, storage and database clusters in Europe. With a background in applied scientific research and practical experience with a wide range of HPC technologies, the team understands customers' requirements and provides tailor-made solutions. ClusterVision has offices in Amsterdam, Gloucester (UK), Munich, Paris, Geneva, Milan, Oslo and Madrid.
For more information
Dr ir Matthijs van Leeuwen
ClusterVision BV
Nieuw-Zeelandweg 15B
1045 AL Amsterdam
Netherlands
Tel: +31 20 407 7550
Fax: +31 84 759 8389
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| The Alma-Grid connects four universities in three countries to boost life sciences research and collaboration between the universities and the local biotech industry. |
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