Technology in the Biotech Space

Human DNA contains approximately 20,000 to 25, 000 genes, with more than 3 billion chemical base pairs. Plants are even more complex — the average plant holds more than 30,000 to 40,000 genes. Decrypting all that genomic structure information, whether human or plant related, is a big job that’s growing almost faster than computing power can keep up.

Challenges such as genome decoding mean that biotechnical pharmaceutical development requires high-level, large-scale data management to meet mounting societal demands for medications, cures, and treatments. Commercial databases, for example, often require massive blade servers supported by additional management servers and file servers that can house as much as 2TB of data. These excessive database needs are prompting some companies to develop their own proprietary systems for managing and working with data.

Inclinix Inc, for instance, recently received a patent for the software system it developed to qualify patients in clinical trials of new drugs and medical devices. The software can facilitate simultaneous trials and retrieve data from previous volunteers for consideration in future trials using data that automatically defines screening logic.

Other companies, however, are turning to software companies that specialize in systems for pharmaceutical development and clinical trials. Waban Software is a good example: It provides technology products and services specialized for pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, health care and CRO companies and academic institutes. Merge Healthcare offers clinical software solutions, too, for general radiology, oncology, orthopedics, and other health care specialty areas.

If you’re a developer, your specialized skills can be of use in the pharmaceutical industry from either side. Despite economic conditions, health care remains one of the few industries that continues to remain steady — that makes it an attractive choice for job seekers.

To learn about biotech organizations that can use your DBA or developer skills, contact Vinay Singh, biotech staffing specialist at The Connors Group, at 201-537-0032 or by email at vinay@theconnorsgroup.com.