Rochester, N.Y.—Following a glowing report on its economic impact by the Center for Governmental Research, the University of Rochester is anxious for its next big research tool, a supercomputer called Blue Gene/Q.
It is used to analyze large and complex sets of data and should bring more innovation to Rochester.
“Such a computer will generate not only new ideas for research, but obviously attract scientists to the Rochester community,” said Jean-Phillippe Couderc, Associate Professor of Medicine with the URMC.
Couderc works with an older version of the supercomputer and has been developing a complex simulation of the human heart through the Blue Gene program.
“Our model will have 90 million cells that are simulated in this heart,” said Couderc.
Through the simulation, Couderc hopes to determine how different drug treatments will impact the heart. There are many other supercomputer applications that will be used by U of R researchers. Ultimately, they hope this technology assists with day-to-day tests and medicine.
“We may be able to detect disease at early stages. We may be able to treat patients better,” said Couderc.
Blue Gene/Q is expected to arrive by the end of June according to a University spokesperson.
