Case Study: Utrecht University advances ALS genetic research with SURF storage and high-performance analysis

Utrecht University - Customer Case Study

Utrecht University, via the UMC Utrecht ALS Centre, faced the immense challenge of processing and analyzing a massive dataset of over 2 million gigabytes of DNA from thousands of patients and control subjects to understand the genetic causes of ALS. The project, MinE, required unprecedented computing power and secure storage for this genetic data, a task far beyond the capabilities of standard computing infrastructure. The university partnered with SURF to find a solution.

SURF provided the high-performance infrastructure for storage, computational power, and secure data transfer. By leveraging its Life Science Grid, SURF reduced the analysis time for the massive dataset from an estimated 600-700 years on a standard PC to just a few weeks. SURF also implemented a direct network connection to securely transfer data from the sequencing company, eliminating the need for insecure physical hard drive shipments. This partnership enabled the landmark MinE project to be headquartered in the Netherlands, creating a unique and valuable genetic data resource for global research.

Utrecht University

Jan Veldink

Utrecht University