The University of Virginia is all set to start a research initiative on data analysis and application. It said the initiative is intended to emerge as a model for future research institutes at the university. This will position the university to be one of the major institutions involved in Big Data.

Moreover, this will help in study and application of Big Data nationwide. The Big Data Institute will be a significant part of the university's strategic plan to move forward. As per local coverage in The Daily Express, the university can excel further to other departments like astronomy or health by examining data. The stream of data is massive in those two sectors.

As far as health care is concerned, it generates the data in terabytes and the data will only increase with more people entering the health care system under federal health care reform.

This has become a concern for some states and that is why they have been asking Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to provide them with more information on data storage and usage.

Tom Skalak, vice president for research at University of Virginia, said that the institute will look forward to figure out ways that can organize and make sense of the massive streams of data coming in.