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| Broad Institute HQ--Courtesy of the Broad Institute |
Google ($GOOG) is teaming up with The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard to create new ways of sharing genomic data and reducing barriers associated with storing and processing genetic information.
As part of the deal, Google Genomics will offer the Broad's Genome Analysis Toolkit (GATK) on its Cloud platform, allowing researchers to upload, store and analyze data. Scientists will also be able to use GATK to analyze Google Genomics' existing genomic data, the Broad said in a statement. Ultimately, scientists in settings ranging from large academic institutions to small, remote research labs will be able to access the data through the Cloud, Google said in a blog post, potentially accelerating biomedical research.
"Large-scale genomic information is accelerating scientific progress in cancer, diabetes, psychiatric disorders, and many other diseases," Eric Lander, president and director of the Broad Institute, said in a statement. "Storing, analyzing, and managing these data is becoming a critical challenge for biomedical researchers. We are excited to work with Google's talented and experienced engineers to develop ways to empower researchers around the world by making it easier to access and use genomic information."
But the partnership is not exclusive, and the Broad and Google will continue to scout out other genomics projects in the meantime, the Broad said in a statement. Still, the deal marks a turning point for researchers as they look for easier ways to access genomic data. "We're at the beginning of a genomics-driven healthcare revolution," Google noted in its blog post, one in which scientists need quick, reliable ways to analyze genetic information on a large scale. The Broad and Google's method could remove some barriers from the process, spurring discoveries related to human health and disease.
This is not the first time Google has joined forces with the Broad for R&D. Earlier this year, Google's biotech company Calico said it would use the Broad's genetics expertise to fuel drug development, focusing on fields including heart disease, diabetes and cancer.
Meanwhile, the Broad is keeping busy with its own set of initiatives, scoring new funds to further its research. Last summer, the Broad snagged $650 million to delve into genetic causes of mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. In May, the Broad got a $10 million gift to use gene-editing technology and blood-based tumor biopsies to research drug-resistant cancers. Earlier this week it capped off a busy couple of months with another investment, roping in $20 million from a group of philanthropists to develop new approaches for drug-resistant TB.
- read the Broad Institute's statement
- here's the Google blog post