Genestack: Two new modules for biodata platform
Helping biologists with 'omics' productivity
Genestack launched two new modules for its biodata platform at Bio-IT World Conference in Boston on Wednesday (May 16).
Genestack was incorporated six years ago and launched its bioinformatics platform for multi-omics R&D four years ago. The new modules will make scientists more productive and demand less of bioinformaticians.
“Biologists tell us it’s hard to find relevant data, as they have to log on to different servers and databases,” says Misha Kapushesky, pictured, CEO of the Cambridge-based bioinformatics software company.
“Without a single point of truth you can have different versions of the data from different sources, with no way of telling what is correct. It is also hard to write analytical tools to work with data in different formats.
“They (biologists) estimate that more than 50 per cent of their valuable time – which should be spent on data mining and analysis – is being wasted.”
Imad I Yassin, Genestack’s VP of sales and marketing, adds: “Genestack is one of the strongest players in the market when it comes to the management and analysis of omics data. Our clients like that the platform is open and agile, so people can work in a way that suits their organisational culture.
“The platform allows clients to organise and prepare multi-omics data – to search, index and prepare data.
“We are not prescriptive. Certain visualisation capabilities are included but if your team wants to use another tool such as Tableau or Spotfire, it doesn’t matter – the platform can facilitate that; it is completely agnostic.”
Speaking from the three-day Boston event, Mr Yassin said: “We have a 10 per cent market share of large pharmas. With these two new modules, we believe we will not only be supporting our existing customers, but bringing new ones to the platform.”
The two modules are Expression Data Miner, which allows biologists “to interrogate and visualize data without support of a bioinformatician, for example viewing the highest expressed gene or most specific gene for any organ or organ system”.
The second module is the Omics Data Manager, which provides a collaborative environment for capturing and organising study data, the result of which is “a single point of truth for all omics metadata, including sequencing and analysis requirements”.
“The Bio-IT World Conference is a must, it’s a big show and a great opportunity both for clients to talk with vendors but also to talk to each other,” added Mr Yassin.
