IBM in cancer research push

The shared resources of inactive, but connected, computers can be used to provide processing power that can assist in medical research - notably cancer research, says IBM.

At a breakfast event yesterday, in Johannesburg, hosted by the multinational technology giant and the Cancer Association of SA, IBM country manager Mark Harris urged participation in the World Community Grid supercomputer initiative.

Skin cancer survivor Candy Kotze-Hayes supported this message. "As individuals, we have a role to play in creating awareness [about cancer] - and there are some innovative ways, such as the IBM initiative, that we can do that."

With IT in healthcare high on IBM's local agenda, Harris pointed out technology has three areas of application in the medical sphere: consolidated electronic health records, remote patient monitoring and the development of "smart drugs".

Harris spoke of the importance of doctors recording information at the source. "Government must force medical practitioners to compile information - on things like drug reactions, for instance - at the time of treatment."

The South African government is edging forward with its electronic health record project, designed to give all hospitals a single view of every patient, complete with diagnosis and treatment history.

Remote patient monitoring is an area where Harris expects to see many developments.

"With technology [devices] getting smaller, and with wireless connectivity, doctors can track the vital signs of patients and pick up issues before they become critical."

On the issue of smart drugs, he pointed out: "As one gets to the molecular level, you can see that different genetic make-up reacts differently to certain treatments."

It is - he said - getting easier to develop specific drugs for specific people, which is the principle of smart drugs.