Microsoft to Take-On the Ultimate Operating System

Jeff O'Connor — Wed, 05 Apr 2006 00:02:00 GMT

Microsoft Tackles Bioinformatics
April 4, 2006

Stacey Lawrence / Ziff Davis Internet

Microsoft on April 4 announced the formation of the BioIT Alliance, a cross-industry group created to enhance the ability to use and share biomedical data, at the Life Sciences Conference and Expo in Boston.

The working group will take on a series of "proof-of-concept" projects to understand how Microsoft's platforms can enhance the integration of the life sciences and IT.

"Advances in our understanding of the human genome promise to revolutionize medicine and open the door to therapies that are tailored to individuals," said Bill Gates, chairman and chief software architect of Microsoft, in a statement...

Life sciences companies have unique technical challenges that often stymie existing pre-packaged and homegrown software solutions, such as the need for more comprehensive data integration solutions, better technical collaboration and stronger knowledge management capabilities.

For example, at least 15 percent of life sciences research is a duplicate of existing studies largely because all of the most appropriate references can't be found. This is one of the issues the alliance is working to address, according to Microsoft platform strategy advisor Don Rule. "We have just one customer who estimates spending $350 million a year duplicating research that already exists."

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University of Michigan Launches Stem Cell Research Center

Jeff O'Connor — Fri, 23 Sep 2005 19:36:00 GMT

U-M Launches Stem Cell Center

DOUG GUTHRIE/The Detroit News

The University of Michigan is creating a new stem cell research center in Ann Arbor around one of the controversial science's rising stars.

With $10.5 million in university funding announced Monday, center Director Sean Morrison will recruit seven more researchers over the next four years to join him in work he started at U-M in 1999. Based at U-M's 2-year-old Life Sciences Institute, the program will combine the resources of the university's medical school and Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Institute as well as aspects of engineering and other programs.

The move also represents a high-profile effort to retain key faculty. It comes on the heels of the university setting aside $4.5 million this summer from a 12.3 percent tuition increase specifically to stem a tide of faculty defections to universities that have offered more money for staff, research and pay. Years of reductions in state funding have been blamed for the losses, said Paul Courant, who returned to teaching last month after serving as U-M's provost and vice president of academic affairs."There is no doubt keeping someone of (Morrison's) caliber is important to the University of Michigan," Courant said. "I think this one happens to be very visible, but it is something we work to achieve all the time. Our president and vice president for medical affairs were involved in this one in ways that weren't the norm."

A native of Nova Scotia, Morrison studied at Stanford University and California Technological University. "I didn't come to Michigan because of the climate," Morrison said. "I'm here because they have great laboratory space, great core facilities and great faculty support and great support from (U-M) President Mary Sue Coleman. I can't think of another university in the country that combines this."

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It's too bad this news didn't come out of Michigan State University, my alma matter.

Oh, well - in a perfect world...

Biotechnology

Microsoft to Take-On the Ultimate Operating System

University of Michigan Launches Stem Cell Research Center