This project aims to use the grid and high performance computing infrastructure to develop a model for global collaboration in the fight against the pandemic threat of Avian flu and other emerging infectious diseases.

Currently the project focuses on the Hemagglutinin and Neuraminidase proteins from Avian and Human flu viruses in order to understand the mechanism of host selectivity and drug resistance. Through a global partnership forged over the PRAGMA grid development activities, we now aim to build a scalable, global, and open knowledge environment for developing novel inhibitors to avian flu.
In addition, by involving scientific researchers with grid developers, database developers, and leveraging tools and resources from member institutes, we intend to deliver both grid computing tools and data management and sharing capabilities that are tested through cutting edge scientific research, and formulate sustainable models of data sharing and drug discovery through international collaboration.

The project is supported by TATRC Award W81XWH-07-2-0014, and also partially supported by respective institutions and their funding agencies through collaborative research and development activities. PRAGMA is supported by NSF grant no. INT-0314015 and OCI-0627026.

More information about AVIAN GRID at  http://avianflugrid.pragma-grid.net/