Intel Philanthropic Peer-to-Peer Computing Program to Help Accelerate
Alzheimer's Research
SANTA CLARA, Calif., Oct. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Intel Corporation and
Stanford University, with the support of the Alzheimer's Association, today
announced Intel's second peer-to-peer philanthropic program: the Stanford
Alzheimer and Amyloidogenic Disease Research Program. The program, along with
the Web site, intel.com/cure , allows computer users to download
"screensavers" that run in the background when the computer is on, but not in
use. This, essentially, creates a virtual network of computers donating
unused computing cycles to scientific research. The technology is similar to
the kind of computing carried out by large supercomputers. This significantly
increases computing capabilities for scientific researchers at substantially
reduced cost.
This new scientific research program will lead to a better understanding
of diseases that may be caused by misfolding proteins or prions, also known as
amyloidogenic diseases. The program will help identify how and why some
proteins misfold by simulating on a computer the conditions that cause
proteins to misfold. By simulating the cause and effects in a program,
various variables can be studied that would take a long time and be difficult
to do in the lab. The proteins that are being studied are not only specific
to Alzheimer's, but also type II diabetes and Mad Cow. This research will
help understand other amyloidogenic diseases as well, such as Parkinson's
disease and ALS. When researchers begin to understand why some proteins
misfold, it will relate to why other proteins misfold.
"Thanks to the power of peer-to-peer technology, scientific research and
the PC have become powerful allies to help fight some of the world's most
damaging diseases," said Patrick Gelsinger, Intel's chief technology officer.
"Since we announced the effort to create the world's largest virtual
supercomputer last April, more than 1 million PCs have joined Intel in the
first program to aid philanthropic research. The effort has generated more
computational power than the top 10 supercomputers combined in order to help
increase the speed of scientific discovery."
"This computing power makes it possible to do simulations that were only
dreamed of before," said Professor Vijay Pande of Stanford University's Pande
Group and project director. "Peer-to-Peer computing is likely the next
computational revolution in biomedical research."
The Philanthropic Peer-to-Peer Program gives computer owners the
opportunity to use their spare personal computing resources to perform
scientific research. PC owners first download a small computer program from
http://www.intel.com/cure . After running the downloaded file, the program is
installed on the user's computer and automatically begins computing; it runs
whenever computation resources are available. The program is similar to a
screensaver that operates during normal computer use, without intervention by
the user. Once processing is complete, typically a day later, the program
sends the results back to Stanford University and requests a new packet of
data the next time the user connects to the Internet.
"The Alzheimer's Association is delighted at the possibilities this new
technology brings to advancing Alzheimer's research," said William Thies, PhD,
vice president for medical and scientific affairs at the Alzheimer's
Association. "We are facing a global Alzheimer epidemic and it is only
through science and research that we can defeat this terrible disease. This
innovative research program gives everyone the opportunity to contribute to
solving the mysteries of Alzheimer's disease every time they turn on their
personal computers."
This research program is not designed to directly find a drug or a cure,
but by studying why these proteins misfold, scientists will begin to figure
out ways to prevent and correct protein misfolding. While not very well
understood, one belief is that Alzheimer's is caused by a build up of plaques
in the brain, and caused by proteins that begin folding incorrectly. This
will even help scientists understand many misfolding diseases beyond
Alzheimer's.
Stanford University researchers from the Pande Group created the software
that performs the scientific calculations, based on TINKER by Prof. Jay
Ponder at Washington University, and will evaluate the program results.
Mithral Communications & Design Inc. provided the distributed software
infrastructure that enables the application to perform the calculations on
thousands of computers. The program incorporates a comprehensive system of
security and privacy technologies to protect user privacy. This program is
based on the folding@home program currently run by the Pande Group.
The Alzheimer's Association is the premier source of information and
support for the 4 million Americans with Alzheimer's disease. Through its
national network of chapters, it offers a broad range of programs and services
for people with the disease, their families, and caregivers, and represents
their interests on Alzheimer-related issues before federal, state, and local
government and with health and long-term care providers. The largest private
funder of Alzheimer research, the association has committed nearly
$120 million toward research into the causes, treatment, prevention, and cure
of Alzheimer's. For more information, call (800) 272-3900 or visit
http://www.alz.org .
Intel, the world's largest chip maker, is also a leading manufacturer of
computer, networking and communications products. Additional information
about Intel is available at http://www.intel.com/pressroom .
* Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others. Intel
is a registered trademark of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the
United States and other countries.
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