Issue 128 February/March 2013 CONTENTS
Laboratory Informatics News and products
All part of the service
Contract research organisations (CROs) demand sophisticated informatics systems, as Beth Harlen discovers
Pittcon preview As Pittcon celebrates more than 60 years, we present a round-up of the exhibitors
Statistical Science Statistical software reviews The joy of text
Felix Grant investigates the complexities of textual analysis
High-Performance Computing News and products
The processing challenge
John Barr weighs up the contenders in the battle for processor dominance
The power behind pharmaceuticals
Industry experts discuss the use of HPC in drug discovery
Modelling and Engineering News and products
Body of evidence
Beth Harlen reports on how modelling and simulation tools are changing the face of medical research
Speed, integration and interactivity
Siân Harris finds out about some of the developments within pharmaceutical modelling
Resources Suppliers’ directory
Inside view
36 38
34
30 32
28
22 24
16 18
12
4 6
Making a discovery
Tere is one clear theme running throughout this issue of Scientific Computing World, as we turn our attention to the field of drug discovery – and what a complex field it is. As pharmaceutical companies continue the outsourcing of their R&D efforts, contract research organisations (CROs) are playing an increasingly critical role in the drug development pipeline. As such, they need top-notch informatics solutions that ensure the efficiency, quality and traceability of the data being produced. More details can be found on page 6. Although relatively new within the
pharmaceutical industry, the use of HPC is already having a considerable impact (p.28), and Siân Harris reports on how the latest molecular modelling techniques are further speeding the process (p.34). Rounding off this issue, we present a preview of Pittcon (p.12), John Barr's insight into the battle between Nvidia and Intel for processor dominance (p.24), Felix Grant's investigation into textual analysis (p.18) and my feature on biomedical modelling (p.32).
Beth Harlen Editor
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FEBRUARY/MARCH 2013 3
Cover: Alexander Raths/
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