• 8/3/2006
  • Johannesburg, South Africa
  • Lesley Stones
  • allAfrica.com

Massive computing power generated by a network of computers around the world is being used to try to develop a cure for cancer.

The World Community Grid is a virtual supercomputer set up by IBM for humanitarian studies. IBM SA’s communications executive, Mathula Magubane-Mphande, said its latest project lets researchers analyse large numbers of cancer tissue samples simultaneously, so multiple experiments could be conducted in shorter periods. “The World Community Grid makes it possible to analyse in one hour the number of specimens that would take approximately 160 years to complete using a traditional computer,” said David Foran, the pathology professor heading the three-month project.

Researchers are analysing breast cancer first, then head and neck cancers.

The speed and sophistication of the computing grid could make it possible to detect and track subtle changes not apparent with human inspection or traditional analysis alone.

The grid harnesses the unused power of computers around the world, and so far 200000 people have linked up 360000 computers by downloading free software from the website www.worldcommunitygrid.org.

Lance Armstrong Foundation CEO Mitch Stoller said: “This technology is especially exciting not only because it offers tremendous potential for breakthroughs in cancer research, but also because the project provides individuals an easy way to get involved in the fight.”