ScaleMatrix, a hybrid-cloud services provider, operates a 14,000-square-foot life-sciences incubator that couples a CLIA-certified genomics laboratory with a state-of-the-art datacenter powering Cloudian object storage and OnRamp BioInformatics genomic analysis software. The incubator helps reduce the barriers to entry for early-stage companies in the fields of genomics, molecular diagnostics and bioinformatics. Using an on-site Illumina sequencer at the incubator, researchers and biologists can generate genomic data then use genomic software from OnRamp BioInformatics to rapidly process and interpret data in ScaleMatrix’s GPU-enabled high-density compute farm and efficiently store valuable insights and data to Cloudian object storage.
The Cloudian deployment enables researchers to store, tag, track and retrieve large amounts of data intelligently and cost-effectively, while the OnRamp BioInformatics software streamlines and simplifies genomic data analysis so that biologists, clinicians and drug developers can unlock valuable insights.
“Our cradle-to-grave experience helps break down major barriers in life sciences, which involve massive data storage and analysis requirements that often aren’t within reach of start-ups,” said Chris Orlando, co-founder of ScaleMatrix. “Cloudian’s petabyte-scalable storage is the ideal platform to quickly and cost-effectively accommodate the data volumes inherent in genomic research. OnRamp BioInformatics completes the solution with an intuitive user experience, workflow automation and comprehensive data and analysis tracking to increase storage efficiency and research productivity.”
By 2025, 40 exabytes of data will be generated annually by DNA sequencers as two billion genomes are sequenced. One human genome generates 250 gigabytes of raw data, which can expand by a factor of from three to five as it is processed by any of the 11,000 open-source applications currently available for genome analysis. This data creates incredible management challenges for the future of precision medicine. Cloudian scale-out storage allows labs to store information at 70 per cent less cost than with traditional on-premises storage; it also eliminates the variable charges of public cloud storage.
“DNA sequencing is important for our future and for human longevity, but the cost of storing and analysing genomic data is a significant hurdle,” said Tim Wesselman, CEO of OnRamp Bioinformatics. “Too often, storage costs and data analysis complexity become bottlenecks to scientific breakthroughs by obscuring insights or even by forcing researchers to delete data that may have real value. Unlike public cloud storage, Cloudian has no access charges and easily scales to genomic proportions, so researchers can stay within their budgets and retain the data they need.”
“Object storage is ideal for the scale and management of the large amounts of data produced in the life sciences, and particularly genomics,” said Michael Tso, CEO of Cloudian. “We’re helping power developments in human genomics that can ultimately lead to new discoveries in health, drug development and longevity.”
