insights on big data in drug discovery Scientists at Berg start with human tissue samples, collect many kinds of data on them, and then use advanced algorithms and supercomputers to fi nd crucial differences between healthy and diseased samples. (Image courtesy of Berg.) look at it from a molecular basis.” That could lead to the discovery of new drugs that change how physicians treat Parkinson’s disease. Other organizations can also benefi t from this tool. To get access to Berg’s technology, a pharmaceutical company or major university can, for example, license one of Berg’s drug targets or drug candidates to work in collaboration. Ayasdi’s Topological Data Analysis (TDA) reveals hidden re-lationships in complicated data sets, which can be used to develop new treatments. (Image courtesy of Ayasdi.) this group and potentially help improve survival rates for this disease, which might potentially help us fi nd a cure.” To expand the use of TDA, Ayasdi develops collabo-rations with other organizations. In these collaborations, Ayasdi provides software, training, and support. “You don’t need to be a data scientist or computer scientist to use our software,” says Ramanan. “You only need to understand your data.” At the time that Ramanan talked with Lab Manager , Ayasdi had collaborations with more than 40 organizations. According to Ramanan, researchers can use TDA to fi nd crucial insights that previously eluded them due to the complexity of their data. Ayasdi’s collaborators, for example, have frequently been able to leverage more traditional techniques to verify and extend their initial fi ndings using TDA. Other companies are also developing sophisticated tools to discover new drugs. In Menlo Park, California, for example, scientists at Ayasdi use topology—the study of shape—to analyze data, which provides a way for scientists to fi nd subtle, often hidden relationships in complex datasets. As an example, Ayasdi’s scientists applied TDA (topologi-cal data analysis) to a gene-expression breast cancer dataset collected more than ten years ago at the Netherlands Cancer Institute (NKI). “We found insights within minutes using TDA and advanced machine learning,” says Devi Ramanan, Ayasdi’s head of collaborations. “We identifi ed a previously unknown subgroup of oncology survivors who exhibited particular characteristics—genetic indicators of poor survivors—which will allow us to better understand SAMPLING SHAPES As the previous examples show, the use of big data in drug discovery often requires a combination of fi elds. Scott Spangler—now a principal data scientist at IBM Watson Innovations in Almaden, California—got started, unknowingly, on such a combination when he was doing TEXT TO TREATMENT Novus Lab Instrumentation To order, call 1-888-RUN-4-IT Introducing the Novus Exercise to Energy Biokinetic generator (NEEB), specifi cally designed to meet the power needs of today’s research environment with zero carbon footprint while fully utilizing one of your lab’s most valuable resources—its sta . Help your employees achieve their full productivity potential by harnessing their physical activity to power your laboratory computers, equipment, and environmental systems.