Guardant Health Announces Launch of Single Namespace Group Uniting Leading Technology, Healthcare and Research Institutions to Set Global Standard for Exabyte-Scale Data Access

Core Insights - Guardant Health has launched the Single Namespace Working Group (SNS), a 34-member consortium aimed at creating an open standard for exabyte-scale data interoperability [1][2][4] - The consortium includes notable founding members such as NetApp, Seagate, IBM, and Genentech, and has been working for 18 months to develop a unified standard for managing massive datasets [3][4] - The initiative will transition to the OASIS standards body to establish the new standard, which will enhance scalability, interoperability, and efficiency for data access [4][5] Group Composition - The SNS consists of leading technology suppliers, end users, and service providers, including major national laboratories and organizations like Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory [3][5] - Additional members include companies such as Hammerspace, Weka, and Starfish Storage, contributing to a diverse cross-industry collaboration [5] Objectives and Benefits - The primary goal of the SNS is to facilitate seamless access to and collaboration with distributed data, which is crucial for accelerating insights in healthcare and life sciences [2][4] - The standard aims to enable AI-ready infrastructure, allowing researchers and clinicians to work together more effectively, leading to faster diagnoses and improved patient care [4][5] Future Plans - Draft specifications for the new standard are expected to be published in early 2026, with public discussions planned at the Supercomputing 2025 conference [6]