Brave New World

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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Real Life Manga Cares for Japanese Elderly

Jeff O'Connor — Sun, 19 Mar 2006 10:26:00 GMT

Aging Japan Builds Robot to Look After Elderly

TOKYO (AFP) - A Japanese-led research team said it had made a seeing, hearing and smelling robot that can carry human beings and is aimed at helping care for the country's growing number of elderly.

Government-backed research institute Riken said the 158-centimeter (five-foot) RI-MAN humanoid can already carry a doll weighing 12 kilograms (26 pounds) and could be capable of bearing 70 kilograms within five years.

"We're hoping that through future study it will eventually be able to care for elderly people or work in rehabilitation," said Toshiharu Mukai, one of the research team leaders.

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Global Strategies for Clinical Trial Information

Jeff O'Connor — Sat, 18 Mar 2006 16:12:00 GMT

In 2003 the World Health Organization (WHO) began a series of conferences to address the issue of establishing a mechanism for conducting and reporting on clinical trials in a consistent, universally-accessible manner. Based upon internationally recognized scientific and ethical principles, the resulting program - the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform - seeks to achieve the following:

ensure that all clinical trials are registered and thus publicly declared and identifiable
ensure that for all trials, a minimum set of results will be reported and made publicly available
establish a complete and readily searchable register of clinical trials – overseen by an objective international body with the input of stakeholders
assist in making treatment decisions
help increase public trust in clinical research

These lofty goals - among others - will be achieved through a public Web portal intended to serve as a “one-stop-shop“ for clinical trial information from all over Earth! How cool is that?

For an overview of this incredibly exciting and worthwhile effort, check out the Webinar series being conducted by BetterManagement.com.

Big Blue Doesn't Equal Big Brother

Jeff O'Connor — Mon, 10 Oct 2005 07:53:00 GMT

IBM Pledges to Assure Privacy of Employees' Genetic Profile

STEVE LOHR/The New York Times

NEW YORK As concerns grow that genetic information could become a modern tool of discrimination, IBM plans Monday to announce a new work force privacy policy.

International Business Machines, a major employer and the largest technology company in the world, is promising not to use genetic information in hiring or in determining eligibility for its health care or benefits plans. Genetics policy experts and privacy rights groups say that the pledge by IBM to its more than 300,000 employees worldwide appears to be the first by a major corporation.

The new IBM policy, which comes as the U.S. Congress is considering legislation on genetic privacy, is a response to the growing trend in medical research to focus on individuals' genetic propensity for diseases in hopes of tailoring treatments to specific medical needs.

Gene tests are not yet widespread, but start-up companies are already intent on developing a market for genetic testing and counseling for individuals. And beyond corporate good will, IBM has a business stake in promoting genetic data gathering and processing, as a leading information technology company with a growing presence in the medical industry.

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