Information technology applications in biomedical research

Abstract

High end computer systems, high speed networks, and other advanced information technologies provide the performance needed in today's biomedical research computing environment. NIH participates in the national Computing, Information, and Communications Research and Development (CIC R&D) program by applying these new technologies to problems in biomedicine. We describe a high speed networking example, the Radiology Consultation WorkStation, and a high end computing example, positron emission tomographic (PET) image reconstruction. The NIH Cancer Genome Anatomy Project (CGAP) provides an example of a major biomedical research effort that will require the creative use of information technology in the future. We end with conclusions concerning the impact new technologies have had on biomedical research and a discussion of plans for the future.