Optalysys and The Earlham Institute Demonstrate Results of Breakthrough Optical Processing for Sequence Alignment
(Thomson Reuters ONE) -
Prototype Technology to Advance and Democratize High-Performance Genomic
Research
NORWICH, U.K., Aug. 30, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Optalysys Ltd. ((at)Optalysys), a
start-up pioneering the development of light-speed optical co-processors, will
demonstrate the latest prototype of its breakthrough technology for genomic
searching at the Genome 10k / Genome Science conference. Optalysys partner, The
Earlham Institute (EI), will present the latest sequence alignment results
produced using the prototype at the conference.
The presentation will be delivered today, 30 August, and will be followed by the
demonstration on 31 August, at the Genome 10K and Genome Science 2017
Conference, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, U.K. The conference runs from 29
August through 1 September.
The technology employs a novel correlation-based approach to the task of
aligning sequenced reads to a reference sequence. Early tests indicate the
technology is capable of a high sensitivity of alignments. Furthermore the
technology allows multiple read sizes to be used, from standard lengths up to
next generation read length sizes of thousands of bases.
Genomic alignment is the first of many application areas being targeted by
Optalysys. The company envisions the technology being integrated with standard
computer systems across a range of demanding industrial and scientific areas
that are becoming limited by the slow-down of progression in electronic
computing.
"Ultimately, we want even the smallest research teams to be able to harness the
power of high-speed computing previously available only to large centres," says
Dr. Nick New, CEO of Optalysys. "The ability to provide supercomputing levels of
processing performance to a much wider audience of scientists and researchers
can have a huge impact on a number of fields - and genetics is a perfect example
of an industry which is expanding much faster than traditional computing methods
can support."
Dr. Daniel Mapleson, analysis pipelines project leader at EI, will present the
team's results from alignments produced by Optalysys' prototype. These indicate
that it is capable of high sensitivity, suggesting that the system could be used
for applications where more distantly related sequences with higher rates of
polymorphism need to be aligned. This is traditionally the domain where software
algorithm BLAST is currently used.
"Optalysys' technology provides the possibility to link high-sensitivity
alignments with high-throughput," says Dr. Daniel Mapleson. "Running
conventional tools capable of high sensitivity for the large datasets being
produced by our sequencing devices comes at great computational cost, both in
terms of time and energy usage."
Dr. Timothy Stitt, head of Scientific Computing at EI, added, "As
bioinformaticians increasingly fear being overwhelmed by the deluge of data from
low-cost, high-throughput sequencing platforms, it's critical that breakthrough
technologies such as Optalysys are impending, to overcome the limitations of
traditional computing technologies. With projections on the order of 90% power-
efficiency over existing processor solutions, Optalysys technology is a dream
come true for infrastructure managers and those promoting environmentally-
friendly HPC."
Optalysys' breakthrough sequence alignment technology is based on an established
diffractive optical approach that uses low-power laser light in place of
electricity for processing. This inherently parallel method enables increased
processing capacity that is highly scalable. This week's demonstration is the
final prototype before Optalysys launches a commercially available version in
early 2018.
Additional details about the presentation and prototype demo can be found below.
What: "Sequence alignment using optical correlation" (paper)
When: 16.30 (BST) Wednesday, 30 August
Where: Genome 10K and Genome Science 2017 Conference, Norwich Research Park,
Norwich, U.K.
Who: Dr. Daniel Mapelson, analysis pipeline project leader, The Earlham
Institute
Demo: 12.30-13.30 (BST) Thursday, 31 August, Optalysys, Poster #P18
For more information about the Genome 10K and Genome Science 2017 Conference,
please visit: http://www.earlham.ac.uk/genome-10k-and-genome-science-conference
Tweet This: Seeing is believing: (at)optalysys demos #HPC prototype with
(at)EarlhamInst at 12.30, 31 Aug at #g10kgs2017
About OPTALYSYS
Optalysys is developing optical high performance computing systems that have the
potential to exceed what can be achieved with electronics at a fraction of the
cost and energy consumption.
About THE EARLHAM INSTITUTE
The Earlham Institute is a research institute focused on exploring living
systems by applying computational science and biotechnology to answer ambitious
biological questions and generate enabling resources.
EI is based within the Norwich Research Park and is one of eight institutes that
receive strategic funding from Biotechnology and Biological Science Research
Council (BBSRC) as well as support from other research funders. EI operates a
National Capability to promote the application of genomics and bioinformatics to
advance bioscience research and innovation.
EI offers a state of the art DNA sequencing facility, unique by its operation of
multiple complementary technologies for data generation. The Institute is a UK
hub for innovative bioinformatics through research, analysis and interpretation
of multiple, complex data sets. It hosts one of the largest computing hardware
facilities dedicated to life science research in Europe. It is also actively
involved in developing novel platforms to provide access to computational tools
and processing capacity for multiple academic and industrial users and promoting
applications of computational Bioscience.
Additionally, the Institute offers a training programme through courses and
workshops, and an outreach programme targeting key stakeholders, and wider
public audiences through dialogue and science communication activities.
Press Contacts:
Margaret Pereira
Karbo Communications for Optalysys Ltd.
optalysys(at)karbocom.com
+1 (925) 989-8109
Stuart Catchpole
The Earlham Institute
Stuart.catchpole(at)earlham.ac.uk
+44 1603 450813
This announcement is distributed by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions on behalf of Nasdaq Corporate Solutions clients.
The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein.
Source: Optalysys Ltd. via GlobeNewswire
Unternehmensinformation / Kurzprofil:
Datum: 30.08.2017 - 09:00 Uhr
Sprache: Deutsch
News-ID 558226
Anzahl Zeichen: 7360
contact information:
Town:
Wakefield Castleford
Kategorie:
Business News
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