Researchers are using data to generate models of the virus responsible for the recent pandemic, as well as to demonstrate how it spreads. Wired reported that a team of scientists is working from home to make a digital replica of the virus to discover its weaknesses.
Moreover, various groups of researchers study existing data to simulate its transmission. Led by Rommie Amaro, the team digitally recreated the virus down to the last atom using Texas Advanced Computer Center’s supercomputer, Frontera.
With the help of known information about the virus, Amaro’s group aims to design a moving model, which can help them study its structure and behavior. Amaro said that this will help them determine vulnerable points of the bug, which other researchers can then use to develop a way to prevent infection.
She explained that combatting a virus is similar to fighting a machine. She said, “Once you know how a machine works, you can strategically make it stop.”
Meanwhile, some groups of researchers are creating a simulation of how the virus spreads as a way to enlighten the public about the likelihood of its transmission, as well as to help authorities create a plan to prevent infection.
To this end, tech startup Hadean started coordinating with the Francis Crick Institute to speed up the process of creating a “single, massive-scale simulation” of how viruses spread. The Institute is a London-based biomedical research center, while Hadean is a cloud and computing-focused tech company.
Hadean CEO Craig Beddis noted that the company’s “partnership with the Francis Crick Institute is a critical step forward in defeating the spread of viruses.” Beddis also said that the firm’s core tech can also be used to “advance the development of a contagion simulation that has the potential to save lives, not just now but in the future.”
The project aims to “integrate complex data on how viruses develop in humans with city-wide contagion modeling.” The organizations seek to “provide governments and local authorities transmission simulations capable of modeling massive, complex datasets in real-time.”
With this goal, this project will be able to provide planning tools that can help governments protect their people and protect healthcare facilities.
To do this, Hadean supplied Aether Engine, its own “hyper-compute platform, and spatial simulation solution.” This tech allows researchers to create models faster and at greater scale. This is also expected to minimize costs.
