Letter to Chairman Eric Schmidt
Letter
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today, in a letter to Google Chairman Eric Schmidt, urged Google to set up shop on Long Island via a unique partnership with the cutting edge Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL). Schumer said this groundbreaking public-private scientific partnership could provide solutions to major technological obstacles in genetics and cancer research as well as bring Google scientists and innovators to Long Island.
As one of the leading molecular biology research labs in the world, CSHL is at the forefront of efforts to apply large scale DNA sequencing to the latest in medical research. But this effort has recently hit a technological brick wall. Schumer said that by working with CSHL, Google could develop the large scale computational systems needed for disease research and explore joint commercialization and business ventures, all while growing the high-tech sector on Long Island. Over the past few weeks, Schumer's office has facilitated talks between Google and CSHL about a potential partnership, with both sides expressing interest, and today Schumer urged Google and CSHL to push this partnership over the finish line.
"Combining Google and the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory would be a ground-breaking partnership capable of unleashing untold innovation and significant economic energy; it would bring the resources of the world's great technology giant to Long Island to join forces with one of the world's great centers of science and invention," said Schumer. "With the Laboratory's world renowned biology lab, and Google's unmatched computing expertise, this partnership has the potential to remake medical research as we know it, all the while boosting Long Island's high-tech economy. It's a match made in heaven that I will do all can to complete."
As the birthplace of modern genetics and a major force in the race to unlock of the human genome, CSHL is the leading molecular biology research lab in the New York metropolitan area, and among the elite of the whole world. CSHL has become a leader in applying large scale DNA sequencing to probe the grand challenges to society in health, medicine, and biology, particularly in the fields of cancer and autism. But while over the past few years CSHL has pioneered the adoption of Google technology in order to address the computational needs of these projects, this effort has hit a scientific and technological brick wall because data sets are so large and complex that they require the most innovative and powerful of computational systems to continue to advance research.
Google represents the key to unlocking solutions for these projects, with access to the most cutting-edge computational innovation in development that can be applied to advance this high-level genetics research. By co-developing large scale computational systems for disease research, Google could participate in a meaningful way on these grand challenges to promote advancements in medical research. For example, current high-level research at the Lab is geared towards discovering the genetic origins of autism and cancer by investigating the sequencing of DNA through computation. These are global research challenges that affect the entire human race and Schumer noted that given the dramatic drop in costs, there are now sequencing centers around the world racing to put sequencing to good use. While the United States continues to lead in total sequencing capacity, the largest individual center in the world is housed in Shenzhen, China, which, according to CSHL, is rumored to have over 5,000 scientists and 50,000 computers financed by the Chinese government. Schumer said that this CSHL-Google partnership will keep America competitive globally in the race to unlock the human genome.
Schumer also noted that by cultivating expertise and developing intellectual property in this scientific domain, Google stood to make huge gains through the potential for spin-off technologies and companies. And Schumer noted that with Google's 3,000 employee office just a stone's throw away in New York City, the potential for Google to share resources with CSHL is now more viable than ever.
A copy of Schumer's letter is below.
Dear Chairman Eric Schmidt,
I write to urge you to explore a potentially innovative and groundbreaking scientific partnership with a world-renowned research institution in my state, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) is the leading molecular biology research lab in the New York metropolitan area, and among the elite of the whole world. In the past few weeks, my office has had a number of preliminary conversations with members of the Google Venture fund and Laboratory scientists regarding a potential partnership. I am encouraged by the pace of these discussions and there seems to be significant opportunity for both a research and commercialization partnership between the two organizations. I implore you to now help me move a joint partnership over the finish line.
I introduce this concept to you because of its great importance to the future of medical research, particularly in the fields of cancer and autism, as well as its job-creation and business potential. As you probably know, CSHL is the birthplace of modern genetics and a major force in the unlocking of the human genome. As modern molecular biology is increasingly becoming a data-driven science, CSHL has become a leader in applying large scale DNA sequencing to probe the grand challenges to society in health, medicine, and biology. Over the past few years, in order to address the paramount computational needs of these projects, CSHL has pioneered the adoption of Google technology to this problem, specifically through the use of programs like MapReduce and related large scale data analysis technologies. However, this effort has hit a scientific and technological brickwall. These data sets are so large and complex that they require the most innovative and powerful of computational systems to continue to advance research.
CSHL is an established world leader in sequencing, but they need Google's help: hardware, systems, and people. I am proud that Google has chosen New York City as a business hub and your footprint of over 3,000 employees is a remarkable accomplishment in such a short amount of time. Since Google New York is a stone's throw from CSHL, sharing of resources is now more viable than ever.
As has been discussed in our preliminary conversations, Google has access to the most cutting-edge computational innovation in development and the Lab believes that it can be applied to advance this high-level genetics research. Working with Google, CSHL could offer an opportunity to participate in a meaningful way on these grand challenges to promote advancements in cancer research, cultivate expertise, and develop intellectual property in this scientific domain. By co-developing large scale computational systems for disease research, the potential for spin-off technologies and companies in Google's portfolio is enormous. This partnership could help grow high-tech jobs in New York on a long-term basis.
Again, I implore you to pursue a joint partnership with CSHL. This is a very exciting time for both your company and the Lab, as both organizations are at the forefront of cutting-edge innovation in science and technology. A strategic alliance could prove a huge scientific and business triumph.
Sincerely,
Charles E. Schumer
U.S. Senator
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