EMU technological: acquisition of a high performance computing system for health and life sciences

• Grant number: 22/11601-4
• Support Opportunities: Research Infrastructure Program - Technology and Innovation
• Start date: June 01, 2023
• End date: May 31, 2030
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Collective Health - Public Health
• Principal Investigator: Sandra Coccuzzo Sampaio Vessoni
• Grantee: Sandra Coccuzzo Sampaio Vessoni
• Host Institution: Instituto Butantan. Secretaria da Saúde (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Hugo Aguirre Armelin ; João Carlos Setubal ; Leo Kei Iwai ; Maria Carolina Quartim Barbosa Elias Sabbaga ; Paulo Lee Ho ; Sergio Verjovski Almeida
• Associated scholarship(s): 24/11060-9 - HPC Infrastructure Management and Application Development for Scientific Portal for Integration of Bioinformatics Applications into NBBC-HPC, BP.TT

Abstract

In this project, we will gather skills from several researchers in the areas of Health Science, Biological Science and Computer Science aiming at the area of Life Sciences and high performance computing (HPC). The advancement of biotechnology and molecular technologies, integrated with developments in the latest technologies in the area of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, has opened new fronts for the creation of networks to monitor variants of pathogens such as COVID-19, Influenza and Dengue. In the studies and simulations of epidemiological models for the prevention and monitoring of epidemics and pandemics. Expanding the integration of -omic, metagenomics, clinical, immunological and epidemiological data for systems biology studies. In evolutionary studies and genetic diversity understanding in pathogens, parasites and model organisms and venomous animals. Our main goal is to promote research in technological innovation in the area of Health Science to elucidate the relationship between rates of genetic diversification and the relationship with venom actions, identification of potential bioactive molecules from the venom of venomous organisms, rational discovery of new drugs and vaccines, and using machine learning, artificial intelligence, Bayesian, and graph theory models in studies to elucidate the molecular pathways and biochemical compounds underlying disease, among other fascinating topics. Through the high-performance computing solution, we will propose new solutions for the intelligent management of computing resources and new systems environments for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology tools, providing a quantitative and qualitative leap for new developments. We will provide new integrative environments with tools for analyzing large volumes of data, improving the usability by multiple and simultaneous users of the infrastructure and establishing functionalities for optimizing processes and quality of results, benefiting the projects linked to this proposal, and serving as a basis for new projects and collaborations at the State. Each of the research lines of the projects involved are coordinated by experienced researchers from different areas and will contribute through collaborations, and students using the infrastructure and developing new applications in the areas of Bioinformatics, Computational Biology and High Performance Computing. The potential of this solution matches and competes on the same level as studies carried out in HPC infrastructure from International Research Centers and Institutions. Thus, this project aims to strengthen not only research and developments in Institutional technological innovation, already well-established and on the rise, but also to expand the synergy between academics and researchers in the State of São Paulo in favor of Innovation technology in Public Health. (AU)