GridR: An R-based grid-enabled tool for data analysis in ACGT clinico-genomics trials

In this paper, we describe an analysis tool based on the statistical environment R, GridR, which allows using the collection of methodologies available as R packages in a grid environment. The aim of GridR, which was initiated in the context of the EU project Advancing Clinico-Genomics Trials on Cancer (ACGT), is to provide a powerful framework for the analysis of clinico-genomic trials involving large amount of data (e.g. microarray-based clinical trials). As a proof of concept, an example of microarray-based analysis taken from the literature was reproduced using GridR. As GridR will ultimately be made available to the ACGT community as a web service, we are sketching the ACGT project and its architecture in the present article as well.