Design and implementation of a scalable high-performance computing (HPC) cluster for omics data analysis: achievements, challenges and recommendations in LMICs

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The advent of high-throughput technologies, including cutting-edge sequencing devices, has revolutionized biomedical data generation and processing. Nevertheless, big data applications require novel hardware and software for parallel computing and management to handle the ever-growing data size and analysis complexity. On-premise, high-performance computing (HPC) is increasingly used in biomedical research for big data stewardship. FINDINGS: In this work, we present Tunisia's first high-performance computational infrastructure for omics research. METHOD: We highlight measurements and recommendations that may help institutions in other low- and middle-income countries that are eager to implement local HPC in facilities for bioinformatics research and omics data analyses.