World Leading Genomics Research Center at Stanford University Integrates DDN to Power Sequencing Flow

DataDirect Networks GridScaler parallel HPC storage infrastructure provides measurable improvements to Illumina HiSeq 2000 DNA sequencing instruments

BOSTON, MA - DataDirect Networks (DDN), the world’s largest privately-held information storage company, today announced the Stanford University Center for Genomics and Personalized Medicine selected DDN technology to provide massive scientific workflow scalability to its gene sequencing research.

The center blends highly efficient, rapid sequencing technology with the research and clinical efforts of experts in genomics, bioinformatics, molecular genetic pathology and even ethics and genetic counseling to bring advances from the laboratory to the patient.

Raw unprocessed sequencing data is staged to a newly purchased DDN GridScaler and S2A6620 storage solution from the center’s existing Illumina HiSeq 2000 DNA sequencing instruments. Production tests run with the DDN/Illumina workflow resulted in a marked performance gain over existing workflows.

“Next-generation sequencing platforms like the Illumina HiSeq 2000 outputs hundreds of gigabytes of intermediate data per run, compounding into hundreds of terabytes to petabytes of genomics data per site,” said Paul Bloch, President, DDN. “The high throughput and scalability of the S2A6620 combined with the performance of the GridScaler file system dramatically reduce the data reduction phase of the Illumina CASAVA pipeline, which means researchers can spend more time on their life-saving work and less time waiting for results.”

To keep up with demanding research initiatives, life sciences organizations need a level of performance and capacity from their IT infrastructure that conventional storage providers cannot offer. With DDN’s GridScaler and S2A6620, customers can build the IT infrastructure that meets their needs, without over-provisioning or being forced into a specific configuration. DDN’s scalable data infrastructure lets life sciences customers focus on their research efforts and not worry about their research infrastructure.
About DataDirect Networks

DataDirect Networks (DDN) is the world’s largest privately held information storage company. We are the leading provider of data storage and processing solutions and services, that enable content-rich and high growth IT environments to achieve the highest levels of systems scalability, efficiency and simplicity. DDN enables enterprises to extract value and deliver results from their information. Our customers include the world’s leading online content and social networking providers, high performance cloud and grid computing, life sciences, media production organizations and security & intelligence organizations. Deployed in thousands of mission critical environments worldwide, DDN’s solutions have been designed, engineered and proven in the world’s most scalable data centers, to ensure competitive business advantage for today’s information powered enterprise.

For more information, go to www.ddn.com or call +1-800-TERABYTE (837-2298).