I guess Ed Hubbard ain't so bad after all!

[dameeks]

This is an article from today's Austin American Statesman. Congratulations Ed!

Darren




Austin firm's grid computing effort honored

United Devices applauded for helping create system to speed medical research




AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF

Wednesday, June 9, 2004

United Devices Inc., which makes software that harnesses the processing power of idle computers, won the 21st Century Achievement Award in Medicine on Monday night at the 16th annual Computerworld Honors Collection ceremony.

The Austin company was recognized for its role in a project that links more than 2.5 million computers worldwide to dramatically speed research on drugs for diseases such as cancer and bioterrorism threats such as smallpox and anthrax.

The company was one of 56 finalists worldwide for awards in 10 categories, and one of five for the medicine award. CEO Ed Hubbard accepted the award at a dinner attended by 500 people in Washington, D.C. The competition recognizes accomp- lishments in using technology to benefit society. Top industry executives nominate individuals or companies, which then submit materials to a judging panel.

Software created by United Devices, which was launched in 1999, taps into individual machines' unused processing power to create a grid system.

The company makes its money by selling software to customers such as university researchers and drug companies, which use it to link their own computers and accelerate research on new products.

But the company also has created a vast worldwide public grid for public-interest projects such as developing an antidote to anthrax.

In that effort for the Department of Defense, United Devices' grid screened more than 3.5 billion potential drugs in five days and completed the entire project in 24 days. Military researchers are now using the information in experiments to find treatments.

Anyone can volunteer for the project by downloading free software from www.grid.org. Whenever the computer is on, its unused processing capacity can be tapped for the research projects.

More than 2.5 million computers in 200 countries have been enlisted in the effort

[Ed Hubbard]

Hey, just seeing this thanks Darren! It was quite a surprise, I really didn't think we'd win but I wasn't going to argue!

[decooney]

Hello Ed,

Congratulations! Wow, very impressive to say the least. I work with EMR medical systems for a living, totally respect and can appreciate what you have accomplished here. Its people like you that help to change and improve the world especially when it comes to expediting or further enabling research for cancer and other horrible diseases. A pat on the back for you for sure. Duane