Cloud Technology combatting Cancer?

European researchers are using cloud computing and grid systems to help treat cancer patients. Using a new cloud computing solution developed by the BEinGRID project, researchers can now share resources such as processors, storage, networking and software - regardless of location or platform.

Grids are proving to the be the way forward in computer networking, as they can deliver on-demand hardware and software in a super system – therefore offering much more power at a lower cost. RadiotherapyGrid, the new grid designed for sharing cancer treatment research, delivers both treatment plan verification and a search function that is optimised to provide alternative treatment plans based on a patient scan, treatment prescriptions and other constraints. The system allows medical professionals to enter information into a browser window and be alerted by email when their results are ready.

“The system can also be extended and adapted, to use new algorithms when new techniques and protocols are developed,” explains Andrés Gómez Tato, a BEinGRID Business Experiment manager from CESGA, one of BEinGRID’s partners. The RadiotherapyGRID could even be applied to other treatment modalities such as the Image Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT), hadrontherapy or brachiatherapy.

The systems designed by the project, which was funded by the ICT strand of the European Commission’s Sixth Framework Programme (FP6), could also be applied to other areas of industry and business, not just the medical sector.

(Source: ICT Results)

For more information on the project, visit the ICT Results website.

Published: Friday, 23rd April 2010 by Tom Freeman