Emerging convergence of Bio and IT Systems K B Chandrasekhar Chairman Ravi Condamoor Chief Executive Officer Svapas Innovations P Ltd. www.svapas.com
Convergence Thus Far… Human Genome Sequencing in 2003 – a watershed moment • New disciplines of study have emerged… • Biological Sciences + Information Technology = • - BioInformatics • - Computational Biology • - Systems Biology Better understanding of Proteomics & Genomics Robotic Surgery, Computer-Aided Drug Development, Clinical Trials Management, Patient Informatics have all gone mainstream
Current Trends in Information Technology • I billion people and counting on Internet • Highly collaborative, real-time, community-centric networks • Email is passé • Instant Messaging, Blogs, Podcasting • Computing as a Utility!! • Abundant, cheap and available • Grid Computing • Pervasive Wireless Networks • Advances in Materials Science, Microelectronics, Manufacturing = NanoTechnology
Emerging Convergence… Some Emerging High-impact areas of Convergence Evidence Based Medicine Personalized Medicine TeleMedicine What’s Common? Healthcare of higher quality and lower cost
Evidence Based Medicine • Definition: • Clinical Practice + Knowledge from Medical Research • 4S Methodology to Find Best Evidence (Dr. Brian Haynes) • Existing EBM Systems are partially automated, islands of knowledge SYSTEMS Computerized Decision Support Systems (CDSS) SYNOPSES Evidence-based Journal Abstracts SYNTHESES Cochrane Reviews STUDIES Original published articles in Journals
The perfect EBM • Integrate and summarize all research evidence about problem • TRIP Database, Cochrane Reviews, Medline, Clinical Trials… • Natural Language Interface • Automatically link with patient’s electronic medical record • Real-time alerts as and when new germane research information flows in • Provide 360 degree view at all times • Decision Support System so that all parties can make informed decisions Computerized Decision Support Systems Doctor Common Interface E-PMR Patient Database Internet Insurer Secure Server
Personalized Medicine • Key to Personalized Medicine • Pharmacogenomics - the study of how a patient’s genetic makeup affects responses to drugs • PharmaInformatics – multidisciplinary study involving BioInformatics & ChemInformatics • Need for PM • 90% of drugs that fail widespread clinical trials can still be effective in smaller groups • Seldane – allergy medicine • Adverse side effects on 0.5% due to genetic defects and hence withdrawn • Herceptin – breast cancer effective only on 25% population • Rescue Orphan Drugs thru’ Pharmacogenomics • Remove uncertainty in prescribing medications and reduce side-effects • Pharmacogenomics + PharmaInformatics will result in targeted drug development
Personalized Medicine • IT role in Pharmacogenomics • Faster, cost-effective, accurate genetic screening • Develop simple to use diagnostic tools for hospitals • Integration with Clinical Trials • IT role in PharmaInformatics • Information explosion and the need to analyze them • HTS High Throughput Screening data, Computational Chemistry, Combinatorial Chemistry • Collaboration between various departments like the development and discovery teams.
Telemedicine & Remote Patient Monitoring • Patients can be examined, diagnosed, monitored and treated without being physically close to a Doctor • Serves patients with mobility issues or proximity problems • Based on Secure Cellular Phone standards Doctor Internet Computerized Decision Support Systems PPP Interface Database Secure Server E-PMR Patient GPRS Gateway
About Us and Our Contribution Highly qualified Life Sciences Research team • Bio-Informaticians, Biologists, Statisticians, Linguists & Mathematicians, Computer Scientists • Associated with AU-KBC Research Center, Chennai • Computational Biology, Biochemical Networks simulation Experienced in building On-Demand, scalable, Collaborative systems • Multinational Team from IBM, Oracle, Exodus, AztecSoft, etc., KBC-RF AU-KBC SVAPAS IP/ Consulting Proposals Grants Consulting Publications Patents IP Ideas Products Services Govt. NGOs Cos. Customers Partners Alliances Investors Entrepreneurs
BioAsk - Literature Informatics How do I go about understanding concepts, identifying entities and unearthing relationships? In-house Library Content How can I generate Hypotheses from my search? Literature Database How will I disqualify non-viable targets & leads early in Drug Discovery Process? Patents Information Overload! Custom Content Repositories PUBMED alone NOT enough! Google Scholar Researcher Forums, Wikis Blogs, etc. Annotated, Curated, Synthesized Information Factual Database Actionable Knowledge Reusable Repeatable Unambiguous www.bioask.com
BioAsk (cont) Current focus on Life Sciences Benefits • Enhance Productivity on Drug Discovery through Bio-Entity Relationship Mining • Research Trend Analysis to identify areas of Opportunities, Alliances & Competition • Semantic & Context-Sensitive Discovery • Theme-based Dynamic Knowledge Clustering • Roadmap includes supporting Healthcare workers with EBM capabilities
Other Contributions from AU-KBC Research Center Computational Biology • Determining protein structure is important to understanding its role in normal and disease state • Experimental methods of Protein structure detection is slow • Developed Computational methods for faster detection of structure
Other Contributions (cont) • Bio-Sensor & Medical Diagnostics • Detect targeted pathogenic bacteria from human blood and body fluids. • Fluorescence effect used to detect & quantify the presence of bacteria • Shorter detection time - 5 hrs Vs 48 hrs using conventional techniques • Target - E-Coli, Salmonella, Leptospira • Proof of concept/ Prototype work underway
Summarizing… • If I have seen farther than others, it is because I was standing on the shoulders of giants. • Sir Isaac Newton, 1676 • IT is the new shoulder that allows Bio to see farther…gain greater insight into the mysteries of the human species • Key Beneficiaries of Bio-IT Convergence • Patients – Makes informed choices, Improved quality of life • Healthcare Providers - Improved Patient care, Less trial-and-error • Pharma - Targeted drug development, less attrition, faster discovery-to-market
In the Horizon • Synthetic Biology combining BioSciences+Engineering is a fast emergent area with exciting possibilities! • Ex: Genetically engineered E-Coli producing artemesinin to treat Malaria • Nano-Bio-IT convergence • Biosensors, Medical Devices, Drug Delivery are some areas to benefit • Open Source Biology - Another page out of IT • Opening up patented DNA Sequencing and methods to manipulate biological properties • Newer business models making medicine more affordable for more people Delivery of the right drug to the right patient at the right time and cost…
