Our world has many deadly diseases and there are frequent outbreaks, which are normally reported in the headlines. Is there other ways where we can help to meet this problem other than donating to health charities or research institutions?
I am glad to answer the above question with a definite YES.
And one way you can do it is by participating in various research projects, which harness the unused, processing power of idle PCs located in homes and offices using Grid Computing. The number of these PCs can numbered into millions. First let's start with the definition of grid computing.
What is GRID computing?
From Wikipedia :-
Grid Computing is a phrase in distributed computing which can have several meanings:
- Multiple independent computer clusters which act like a "grid" because they are composed of resource nodes not located within a single administrative domain. (formal)
- Offering online computation or storage as a metered commercial service, known as utility computing.
- The creation of a "virtual supercomputer" by using spare computing resources within an organization.
- The creation of a "virtual supercomputer" by using a network of geographically dispersed computers. Volunteer computing which generally focuses on scientific, mathematical, and academic problems, is the most common application of this technology.
And for real virus busting, the fourth definition is relevant. Currently there are grid-computing projects to tackle cancer, AIDS, SARS, avian flu, Ebola, smallpox, anthrax and other afflictions. Almost anyone with a computer and Internet access can take part in these projects. To take part, usually one has to download and install a small program.
The use of grid computing for finding new drugs is relatively new, but concepts of using computers to stimulate the working of drugs is well established. Scientists have been using computer simulations of drugs and it’s workings for many years.
The method of stimulation starts with the identification of possible drug targets. These are normally disease-causing microbes. Then scientists employ a process called virtual screening by using the computer to simulate the combination of millions of different drug molecules against a specific microbe. Through this it is possible to identify potential promising combinations that can kill the microbe.
Up to now researchers could only depend and use expensive supercomputers to run these complex and time-consuming simulations. However, by taking advantage of grid technology, scientists hope to harness the combined power of thousands to even millions of PCs. This results in considerable saving in time and costs.
Speaking of cost, in fact it is even better as all this processing power can be had at almost no cost. All that is required is the recruiting of volunteers from around the world to take part in the quest.
The proponents of grid computing say the technology has revolutionized computational biology and other life sciences. Then others who are solution providers are making inroads into engineering and chemical research.
The concept of grid computing using home computers is not new. It first emerged in the late 1990s through a project aimed at finding signals of alien intelligence.
The SETI@home project used connected computers on the Internet to analyze data of radio telescope in the search for extraterrestrial life (SETI).
The project is still ongoing and currently has more than 670,000 participants, making it one of the largest grid computing projects in the world.
Computers today are very powerful but most of the time, most people still use their PCs for word processing, checking e-mail and web surfing. These tasks do not tax up the powerful processors of the PCs. As a matter of fact, these PCs are under utilized
And all these spare cpu power is ideal for a grid computing project, whether it is for the search for aliens or cures for diseases.
The power of grid computing using spare CPU power in PCs was demonstrated at the conclusion of the Anthrax Research Project in 2002. In the demonstration 3.57 billion molecules were screened for suitability as a treatment for advanced-stage anthrax. The project was completed in 24 days. This is something unprecedented according to researchers in the demonstration. This is because it using the traditional methods, such an exercise would have taken years.
However one thing to keep in mind is that participants in various life sciences projects should not expect quick cures to materialize from the current simulations. This is because the virtual screening process is only one of the early stages in a long progression of processes required for the discovery of a new drug.
And once such a drug is identified using computational methods, they can be chemically synthesized in an actual laboratory, and are subjected to stringent controlled testing. Then this is then followed by years of testing to test for any complication and side effects.
As can be seen from the long validation process required, it is therefore not possible to state clearly at this point whether drug candidates produced from grid computing will ultimately result in cures or vaccines.
Still, most researchers agree that grid computing can significantly increase the speed and scope of molecular research. And this includes many pharmaceutical companies as reported in GRIDtoday
However the way I see it, grid computing allow us the ordinary citizens with spare cpu power a chance to contribute directly to the efforts of disease fighting and scientific research. One hell of the way to real virus busting with spare cpu power.
