Your computer can help scientists search for new childhood cancer treatments

Medical researchers and IBM (NYSE: IBM) are asking the public's help in finding prospective treatments for childhood cancers, the top worldwide cause of death by disease for children. Scientists are searching for chemical drug candidates that can affect the key molecules and proteins that control cancer cells in several common childhood cancers. However, finding drug candidates is an expensive and slow process.

To accelerate the process and broaden the search, IBM is providing those scientists free access to World Community Grid, an IBM-funded and managed program which advances scientific research by harnessing computing power "donated" by volunteers around the globe. This resource is the equivalent of a free, virtual supercomputer that enables scientists to more quickly conduct millions of virtual experiments to help pinpoint promising drug candidates for further study.