The GRID will also provide vast capacity to store and retrieve data from a variety of sources and will allow the presentation of data obtained in the same format, regardless of its source.
Biological science is now one of the major areas of focus of scientific research worldwide.
The increasing amounts of data being generated by these groups are often complex, generated through different media, variable in quality, stored in many places, difficult to analyse, often changing and mostly comprised of incomplete data sets. Learning to harness and exploit these data is a major challenge for bioinformatics and will also impact on the implementation of UK GRID activities. Support for database maintenance will also be crucial. Consortia modelled on the CCPs would also be supported to address data standards and curation needs for the biology research community including structural biology and IGF centres. It is expected that such summer school applications will contain a plan to move towards full self-sufficiency by the end of the period of the grant.