Australian MCRI Children's Institute uses large data to decipher DNA

The Murdoch Children's Institute of Australia (MCRI) is trying to strengthen its data-storage capabilities because they are plagued by big data problems in the next generation of DNA sequencing technology.

MCRI is one of the world's medical research centers devoted to the study of DNA sequencing technology. This technique can be sequenced for the entire human genome, while also allowing MCRI to have the ability to analyze these large datasets.

The Institute began studying next-generation DNA sequencing techniques in 2010 to speed up the diagnosis of various child development disorders.

MCRI, deputy director Andrew Sinclair, told ZDNet in an e-mail: "Sequencing a gene every time is very laborious and expensive-we don't know which gene to choose." With the next generation sequencing technique, we can analyze all of the genes in one patient in one test, and in most cases we can get a quick diagnosis. ”

But the new generation of sequencing technology gives MCRI data storage a little pressure. The Centre intends to install a data storage system to preserve and manage large data, including data generated by next generation sequencing technologies.

MCRI has extended the center's existing 117TB storage and built a pre-built storage infrastructure platform to support the lateral scaling of DNA technology. It is understood that the center uses EMC storage technology and Isilon platform to build the storage infrastructure.

The head of the project, Thomas Dureya, will participate in the design, installation, and configuration of the storage system. The deployment process is about to start and will take about a few months to complete.

The Institute is currently testing 60 patients for next-generation DNA sequencing techniques. Once the new platform is online, MCRI can use DNA sequencing techniques to test 1000 patients a year, according to Professor Sinclair.

"Children will be the first beneficiaries of the next generation of DNA sequencing technology, and we can detect and diagnose childhood genetic conditions early," he says. I believe that in the near future, genetic sequencing of patients will affect all branches of medicine. ”

(Responsible editor: Fumingli)