High-Performance Computing (HPC) in Drug Discovery
Cloud-based High-Performance Computing (HPC) provides tremendous computational power, capable of performing quadrillions of calculations per second. This power is crucial for fields like drug discovery, genomics, and materials science. However, using HPC in the cloud often comes with challenges, including steep learning curves and managing complex cloud infrastructures.
Challenges Faced by Researchers
Fengbo Ren, CEO of Fovus, highlights the obstacles researchers face: "Many researchers lack the specialized knowledge required to manage cloud environments," he says. The complexities range from billing issues to a high demand for resources like GPUs, which can lead to cost overruns. Additionally, the time-to-insight, or the time taken to get results, can be long without efficient management, sometimes extending to weeks.
Fovus's AI-Powered Solution
Fovus aims to simplify cloud HPC with its AI-powered serverless platform. It automates cloud logistics and optimizes strategies to reduce cloud expenses and speed up research. By using spot instances—temporary, cost-effective cloud resources—Fovus helps decrease costs. An example case study showed a research team's monthly cloud bill reduced from $20,000 to $5,000.
Boom in HPC Demand in Pharma and Biotech
The demand for HPC is increasing, particularly in the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors, driven by AI-based drug discovery. According to Fovus's data, HPC usage in these fields is about 20 times higher per user compared to the engineering industry. For instance, a biotech startup used Fovus to improve their high-throughput virtual screening (HTVS) process, achieving a 96x speed increase and significant cost savings.
Origins of Fovus and Future Prospects
The inception of Fovus was driven by challenges Ren faced in migrating HPC workloads to the cloud. Founded in 2021, Fovus's mission is to streamline and revolutionize the traditional HPC industry. Its platform intelligently selects optimal infrastructure, checks software licensing, and scales resources to match demand, preventing overspending.
Fovus represents a much-needed innovation in the HPC industry, helping researchers focus on scientific discovery without the burden of managing complex cloud systems.
