Google, Cold Spring Harbor Lab 'dating'

Google and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory have been "dating," in the words of a Google executive, to see if they could partner to speed up research into DNA and disease.

The idea came this summer after lab scientists told an aide to Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y) that they had hit a "brick wall" in their research into genes and cancer. Vast bits of DNA data and other information had maxed out the lab's computer storage and analysis capabilities.

Schumer contacted Google, the Internet search company, which has copious computer resources, and talks began.

"We think there's a lot of potential to help a lot of people by understanding that data," said Bill Maris, managing partner of Google Ventures, the investment arm that funded clean-tech, health care and software initiatives.

The talks may not lead to anything. "We're probably on the second or third date," Maris said. "We're sort of getting to know each other."

Lab president Bruce Stillman, out of the country on business, said in an email he looks forward to more talks. "A collaboration between a leading biomedical research institution like Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and a technology powerhouse like Google would present a unique opportunity," he wrote.

So far, it's just been phone chats between the two parties, with Schumer hoping to announce an engagement.

He said Google's Manhattan office, where 3,000 people work, makes a relationship convenient.

In Google fashion, Maris said scientists and officials on both sides must first meet and see if they care about each other's work and can fulfill each other's needs.

A partnership could lead to computing algorithms and other useful spinoffs that can help Google and its clients, Maris said. "We sort of have this huge cloud of computers and most of the processors are idle most of the time. We get to stretch our intellectual and computer science legs," he said.