Replacement of High-Performance GPU Compute Nodes at the University of Lethbridge

更换莱斯布里奇大学高性能 GPU 计算节点

• 批准号: RTI-2020-00657
• 负责人: Zovoilis, Athanasios
• 金额: $ 10.7万
• 依托单位: University of Lethbridge
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Research Tools and Instruments
• 财政年份: 2019
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2019-01-01 至 2020-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=693617
• 关键词: Replacement; Performance; GPU; Compute; Nodes

Requested Equipment: Over the last 15 years, bioinformatics and computational chemistry research has been revolutionized by major advancements in high-throughput genomics approaches and new computational modeling algorithms, respectively. These approaches revolve around big data' that requires powerful computing resources for production and analysis, namely a computer cluster that contains state-of-the-art GPUs (graphics processing units). Researchers at the University of Lethbridge (UofL) are using a 7-yr old GPUs that will be decommissioned in 2020 due to failing components and slow processing speeds. This grant will support the critical replacement of these much needed but obsolete GPU compute nodes, allowing UofL researchers and collaborators to remain competitive on the international stage in the quickly evolving fields of bioinformatics and computational chemistry.***Research Activities and User Group: Since the impact of computer modeling has been long recognized, UofL recruited Dr. Wetmore as a Tier II Canada Research Chair (CRC) in computational chemistry in 2007. She is now a Tier I Board of Governors Research Chair who leads an internationally renowned and vigorous research program that seeks to better understand the chemistry of nucleic acids. By addressing unanswered questions about the impact of chemical modifications and the catalytic power of enzymes in our bodies, her work will aid in the design of new nucleic acids for medicinal and biotechnological applications. Subsequently, UofL recruited Dr. Zovoilis as a Tier II CRC from Harvard in 2016 to establish a bioinformatics program. As the director of the Southern Alberta Genome Sciences Centre and academic lead of BioNet Alberta (a Genome Canada supported network of bioinformaticians), he is an up-and-coming leader in the study of non-coding RNA using a cutting-edge sequencing platform (PromethION sequencer), the first in Western Canada. Both researchers also have close collaborations with many scientists who need their expertise in bioinformatics/computational chemistry and access to GPU-based computing, including researchers in 3 UofL departments, 4 UofL research institutes and a pan-provincial research network.***Significance of the Research: The fundamental bioinformatics and computational chemistry research of all users has the potential to advance the development of new biomaterials and medicines, which will positively impact the lives of Canadians. All trainees in the user groups perform computational analyses of data from various sources (genomic or molecular simulations) and will help grow Canada's workforce in diverse computational fields.***Impact of Delay: Both co-applicants and their colleagues in several research institutes use techniques (machine learning and biomolecular simulations) that require GPUs. Without access to cutting-edge GPU nodes, their highly productive research programs will be suspended and the training of life scientists negatively impacted.*****

请求的设备：在过去的15年中，分别通过高通量基因组方法和新的计算建模算法的重大进步来彻底改变生物信息学和计算化学研究。这些方法围绕着大数据旋转，该大数据需要强大的计算资源来生产和分析，即包含最新GPU（图形处理单元）的计算机群集。莱斯布里奇大学（UOFL）的研究人员正在使用7年旧的GPU，该GPU将在2020年由于组件失败和加工速度缓慢而退役。这笔赠款将支持对这些急需但过时的GPU计算节点的关键更换，使UOFL研究人员和合作者能够在国际阶段保持竞争力，在快速发展的生物信息知识和计算化学领域。现在是I级董事会研究主席，负责国际知名和有力的研究计划，该计划旨在更好地了解核酸的化学。通过解决有关化学修饰和酶在我们体内催化能力的影响的未解决问题，她的工作将有助于设计用于药用和生物技术应用的新核酸。随后，UOFL于2016年从哈佛大学招募了Zovoilis博士作为II级CRC，以建立生物信息学计划。作为南部艾伯塔省基因组科学中心的主任和艾伯塔省Bionet（基因组加拿大支持生物信息学家网络）的学术领导者，他是使用尖端测序平台（PromeThion Sequencer）的非编码RNA研究的新兴领导者，是加拿大西部的第一个。两位研究人员还与许多科学家进行了密切的合作，他们需要他们在生物信息学/计算化学方面的专业知识以及对基于GPU的计算的访问，其中包括3个UOFL部门的研究人员，4个UOFL研究机构和一个泛损研究网络。积极影响加拿大人的生活。用户组中的所有受训者对来自各种来源（基因组或分子模拟）的数据进行计算分析，并将有助于在不同的计算领域中增加加拿大的劳动力。如果不访问尖端的GPU节点，他们的高产研究计划将被暂停，生命科学家的培训受到负面影响。*****