Oracle to research race-based medicine

Oracle is teaming up with the University of Tokyo to research the emerging field of tailor-made medical care, which takes into account a patient's genetic traits, such as race, to treat illness and disease. Oracle's Japanese subsidiary has agreed to help fund the project as well as contribute database software and data-analysis expertise, the company said this month. The company did not immediately quantify the value of its contributions.

Biotechnology has fascinated Oracle Chief Executive Larry Ellison for years. The billionaire software tycoon has funded several biotech ventures and donated to numerous medical causes. The Ellison Medical Foundation, a nonprofit he established in 1997, supports research on aging and age-related diseases.