Description

Scientists rely on bioinformatics during every step of the drug discovery process in an effort to comprehend biological and disease mechanisms, identify new targets and to select and design novel drugs. But while methods for sequencing, measuring expression, and assessing structure have achieved high-throughput capacity via automation, the means by which data is analyzed are lagging behind. By examining the software and hardware needs of drug discovery researchers, this report provides insights into how the collection, storage, cataloging, analysis and sharing of massive amounts of data can be improved. The investigation of end-user needs in Bioinformatics can be leveraged across several product categories with the goals of developing better products and expanding market penetration. To this end, the survey data has been placed in context by cross-tabulating it with the responses to an initial 14-question survey designed to provide baseline data on the nature of the respondent's drug discovery research. Included in these cross-tabulations are: the stage of research, type of research, disease targets, biological processes studied, and other related products and services used regularly. The results of the seven surveys conducted for this unique series of reports clearly show that past distinctions between the stages of drug discovery are diminishing. Bioinformatics is structured to reflect the market's integration, while highlighting end-user problems that represent exciting market opportunities for life science suppliers. Report Highlights Along with a comprehensive overview of significant findings, Bioinformatics contains detailed charts and graphs depicting the answers to all 29-survey questions and over 20 cross-tabulations. Below is a glimpse of the key findings derived from just a few of the survey questions: • Respondents cite "expertise" (25%) as the most common reason for choosing their current bioinformatics arrangement. (Question 4) • "Multiple sequence comparison and alignment" (59%) is the most common type of data analysis performed by the respondents. (Question 10) • Respondents note that their labs experience several different performance/operational limitations of their bioinformatics tools, with "confusing command interfaces" (19%) being most common. (Question 15) • Respondents note that "uptime" (35%) would be the most significant improvement to their lab's/group's bioinformatics hardware. (Question 17) • InforMax (10%) is the company most frequently mentioned when the respondents were asked which company/supplier comes to mind when they think of bioinformatics products/services. (Question 18) (Electronic copy also includes 1 print copy)

Table of Contents

Section 1 Executive Overview and Introduction 1-1 Among the Study's Key Findings 1-2 Bioinformatics: A Key Enabling Technology 1-2 Diversity of Bioinformatics Applications 1-2 Sources of Bioinformatics Data 1-3 Overcoming Current Technological Limitations 1-4 Acquisition Options of Bioinformatics Capabilities 1-6 Opportunities for Achieving a Competitive Advantage 1-7 Future Bioinformatics Trends Section 2 Study Methodology and Demographics 2-1 Objectives 2-1 Comments 2-2 Assumptions 2-3 Definition of Terms 2-4 Market Segment 2-4 Organization Size 2-4 Laboratory Size 2-4 Job Position 2-4 Geographic Region 2-5 Area(s) of Research Section 3 Significant Findings 3-1 Product Use & Application 3-1 Product Expectations 3-2 Technology & Suppliers Section 4 Presentation of Survey Data Product Use & Application 4-1 Current use of bioinformatics tools and/or services 4-4 Major objective of drug discovery research 4-5 Arrangement in which bioinformatics needs are met 4-7 Primary reason for using a specified arrangement to meet bioinformatics needs 4-9 Type of bioinformatics system primarily used 4-11 How bioinformatics system is primarily maintained 4-13 Average number of hours devoted to bioinformatics per week 4-14 Percentage of time spent performing basic bioinformatics applications 4-15 Techniques/technologies for which bioinformatics are used 4-17 Type(s) of analysis performed using bioinformatics 4-19 Other scientists/teams that regularly share bioinformatics data 4-20 Future use of bioinformatics Product Expectations 4-22 Most influential features in decision to use one bioinformatics tool and/or service over another 4-24 Most influential factor in decision to purchase one bioinformatics tool and/or service over another 4-26 Most significant performance limitation/operational problem experienced when using bioinformatics tools and/or services 4-28 Most valuable improvement to bioinformatics software 4-30 Most valuable improvement to bioinformatics hardware Technologies & Suppliers 4-32 "Top-of-mind" company/supplier for products and services for bioinformatics 4-34 Estimated percentage of current total annual budget for products/services dedicated to bioinformatics tools 4-35 Estimated percentage of future total annual budget for products/services dedicated to bioinformatics tools 4-37 Primary supplier of bioinformatics software 4-39 Familiarity with bioinformatics software companies 4-41 Estimated percentage of current total annual budget for products/services dedicated to bioinformatics software 4-42 Estimated percentage of future total annual budget for products/services dedicated to bioinformatics software 4-44 Familiarity with companies that provide sequence data 4-46 Primary supplier of bioinformatics hardware 4-48 Estimate percentage of current total annual budget for products/services dedicated to bioinformatics hardware 4-49 Estimate percentage of future total annual budget for products/services dedicated to bioinformatics hardware Section 5 Benchmarking Data 5-1 Stage of drug discovery research 5-2 Type of drug discovery research conducted 5-4 Disease focus of drug discovery research 5-6 Biological processes or states monitored 5-8 Techniques used 5-10 Automated systems used 5-12 Types of equipment used 5-13 "Top-of-mind" company for products and services for drug discovery Section 6 Appendices 6-1 Overall comments as to where suppliers should focus their efforts 6-3 Cross-Tabulations of Survey Data 6-27 Related Reports 6-33 About BioInformatics 6-34 Our Valued Clients