e-INFRA helps accelerate the mapping of collective immunity to coronavirus

Members of the research infrastructures e-INFRA CZ and ELIXIR CZ, the CESNET association and the CERIT-SC Centre of Masaryk University, responded to the current need for computer technology in the EATRIS-CZ infrastructure, which is located at the Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine of Palacký University Olomouc (ÚMTM), and is one of the leading academic institutions involved in laboratory testing for COVID-19. ÚMTM and EATRIS.CZ have created several software applications to support laboratory diagnostics as well as clinical evaluation of community immunity against coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 causing covid-19 disease.

CESNET and CERIT-SC have secured the rapid delivery of high-performance computing technology from M Computers, provided the necessary know-how and are also working together to provide a computing and storage infrastructure for processing data from ongoing collective immunity measurements.

M Computers has procured and long-term lent state-of-the-art technical equipment for real-time data collection, storage and access from all testing hospitals and laboratories. It also ensured the connection with the collection points so that the whole process took place without unnecessary delays. Experts from CESNET and CERIT-SC helped with the configuration of the provided hardware and are involved in the ongoing optimization of the entire system.

“We were approached by the call of Associate Professor Marián Hajdúch, Director of the Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine, for help with computer technology, with which he turned to scientific and research institutions through the media,” said prof. RNDr. Luděk Matyska, CSc., Director of the CERIT-SC Centre and the Institute of Computer Science of Masaryk University.

“Our goal was to help put into operation and further optimize the system of collection and processing of test results as soon as possible, which is being developed by experts from Palacký University in Olomouc,” explains the Director of the CESNET association, Ing. Jan Gruntorád, CSc.

“This support has accelerated the deployment of a system for data collection and processing of the results of the SARS-CoV-2 collective immunity study, and at the same time will accelerate preparations for the so-called Smart Quarantine in the Czech Republic,” adds Doc. MUDr. Marián Hajdúch, Ph.D.

The e-INFRA CZ research infrastructure strives to contribute to the best possible management of the pandemic through other activities. It offers the state administration as well as the academic and scientific community the necessary professional cooperation in the implementation of the adopted measures. Further information can be found on the website.