A gene database developed at the University of Minnesota could help reduce the time and cost involved with vetting new cancer drugs.
The school is in the process of copyrighting the database, known as OncomiR, and has plans to license it to pharmaceutical companies and other researchers.
"Our final goal is to make this database the one-stop shop for any information related to this gene," says Rasik Phalak, 24, who created the database while earning a computer science masters degree.
OncomiR and Phalak are also
semifinalists in the student division of this year's Minnesota Cup entrepreneurship contest.
As a graduate student, Phalak helped
Dr. Subbaya Subramanian, a med school researcher, organize his data related to microRNA.
MicroRNA is a gene type scientists think may contain clues about the causes of cancer growth.
OncomiR organizes all of Subramanian's data into a single database. Phalak also developed a web application that allows drug researchers to search via a web browser.
"With this, they'll get a good starting point, which will help to eventually reduce the time and the cost involved in the entire process," says Phalak, who plans to continue to populate and update the database.
Source: Rasik Phalak, OncomiR
Writer:
Dan Haugen