Your go-to blog for modern lab management

Across biological and chemical R&D labs, referring to “sample management” can mean many different things.

A “sample” could be a live mouse within a large colony. 

Or a cell line in a cryotube that’s on its 20th passage. 

Or a newly synthesized chemical. 

Or a recently constructed plasmid.

“Management” is similarly ambiguous: It can refer to what type of biospecimen or chemical a sample is, where it’s stored, who used it last, and when, or how much of it is stored. To manage all of this sample information along with the sample itself, labs need to carefully plan and pay attention to these details.

Fortunately, there are software solutions for this. Traditionally, scientists used Laboratory Inventory Management Systems (LIMS) for efficient and effective sample management, but more recently, scientists have relied on Digital Sample Management Software (DSM) platforms. 

There are some subtle differences between a LIMS, DSM platform, and many others, but regardless of what you call it (we’ll use LIMS in the following blog), there are key sample management features that all labs require to be successful. 

In this blog, I’ve highlighted 5 critical traits for any digital sample management platform.

Sample Traceability

Sample tracking is essential for locating the exact location of a sample in the lab and where it’s stored. This is particularly important when multiple researchers and technicians rely on or regularly use the same samples.

Audit Trail

An audit trail provides a chronological record of all sample collection, handling, storage, analysis, and disposal activities. Think of it as a historical account of a sample's who, what, when (down to the date and time), where, why, and how.

Audit trails are essential in ensuring the integrity and traceability of a sample. It can be used to identify any deviations from standard operating procedures or potential errors in sample handling and provide a record of any changes made to the sample or its associated data.

Sample Updates

Like we update our social media status, samples get status updates. An example would be when you do something to the sample (e.g., check for contamination and now need to update the sample to “contamination: pass”). Because this is such a frequently performed activity, any LIMS must support rapid and easy features for doing this. 

Biology- or Chemistry-Specific Capabilities

There are LIMS out there that are simple or list-based data management platforms. But what happens if you have to store specialized data, such as simplified molecular-input line-entry system (SMILES) chemical notation strings or integrate with other digital platforms, such as rendering a plasmid from GenBank?

Many labs make the mistake of buying 4 or 5 software platforms to satisfy those needs without realizing that there are comprehensive solutions that combine a variety of necessary sample management tasks together. 

Check out our article, “The digital lab: in search of leaner, greener operations” in Nature which talks more about this.

Sample Lineage

Whether you’re tracking chemical derivatives or the parent-child relationship of your biospecimens, ensure your system can track sample lineages and relationships between samples in your collection. This feature becomes particularly important if you’re involved in biobanking. Features like these can sometimes be overlooked or assumed to be a part of LIMS.

Find The Best Way to Manage Your Samples

The best software platforms have all the features embedded into the system. If a software platform is not capable of combining these capabilities into an easy-to-use, customizable interface or creates more work for you, then it may not be the most efficient or effective solution for your sample management.

Let’s chat about Digital Transformation, AI, and the world of biotech! Contact us here.

Starting up a new laboratory, whether you're leading a new discovery team at a company or opening up an academic research lab at a university, is exciting. Many things are on your “to-do” list, including purchasing equipment and consumables, personnel recruiting and hiring, and establishing workflows. Among these new things is organizing your operations to generate high-quality, reproducible data efficiently. 

After all, this will form the foundation for proving long-term success by meeting milestones, getting funding, and publishing papers.

Implementing an electronic lab notebook (ELN) can significantly improve organization, collaboration, and reproducibility in any research lab, and identifying an ELN platform that meets your lab’s needs is likely top-of-mind for any new PI or lab head. 

Here are some critical steps to identifying and implementing an ELN platform in a brand-new research lab.

Step 1: Assess your Lab's Needs and Choose an ELN Platform

Before implementing an ELN, assessing your lab's needs and choosing an ELN platform that meets them is essential. Consider these five key questions:

1. What types of experiments will you be conducting?
2. What kinds of data will you be generating?
3. How many people will be using the ELN?
4. Will you need to collaborate with researchers outside of your lab?
5. What is your budget for an ELN?

Many ELN platforms are available, both free and paid, and answering the above questions can help you narrow down the platforms that are a good fit. It's important to choose a user-friendly, secure platform with the features you need now but can expand its functionality for the future. Creating a checklist that compares and contrasts your various ELN options is helpful during your evaluation process.

Step 2: Set Up User Accounts and Permissions

Once you've chosen an ELN platform, you must set up user accounts for everyone in your lab using the ELN. You'll also need to set permissions for each user, which will determine what they can and can't do within the ELN. For example, you may give some users permission to create new experiments and enter data, while others may only have permission to view data.

Step 3: Create Templates for Experiments

To make it easier for users to enter data into the ELN, you can create templates for different types of experiments. These templates can include things like protocols, reagents, and expected results. Templates help ensure that experiments are conducted consistently and data is entered in a standardized format.

Step 4: Train Users on How to Use the ELN

Before you start using the ELN, training everyone in your lab on how to use it is crucial. This may involve providing tutorials or training sessions and documentation on how to use the ELN. Make sure everyone in your lab understands how to enter data, search for data, and collaborate with others in the ELN. Identify digitalisation leaders within your lab who are strong ELN advocates and know the platform inside and out to field questions and help move implementation and adaptation along.

Bonus feature: If your ELN provider can undertake training and provide supporting resources, this will decrease implementation time!

Step 5: Start Using the ELN

Once everyone in your lab is trained on using the ELN, you can start using it actively for your research. Encourage everyone in your lab to use the ELN consistently and to document their experiments in detail. This will help ensure that your research and data are well-documented and reproducible. This may be the most time-consuming and arduous process, but learning to use an ELN properly and using it often are necessary skills when working in a research lab in 2023 and beyond.

Step 6: Evaluate and Improve your ELN Implementation

After using the ELN for a while, evaluating how well it's working for your lab is essential. Are there any features that are missing? Are there any problems with the ELN that need to be addressed? If this is your first time using an ELN, approach its use with the same rigour as you do your experiments. Encourage feedback from everyone in your lab and use that feedback to improve your ELN implementation over time. Furthermore, ensure that this feedback is relayed to your ELN provider and that your feature improvements are actively considered and employed when applicable!

Time to Start Your ELN Journey!

Implementing an ELN can take time and effort, but it can be well worth it in the long run. Using an ELN can improve your research lab's organization, collaboration, and reproducibility. This will take your research process to the next level and make the challenging process of opening up a new research space that much easier!

Contact us if you have any questions or are interested in starting your ELN journey.

BOSTON, MA – Today, eLabNext, an Eppendorf Group Company offering a flexible, AI-powered Digital Laboratory Platform equipped with a Laboratory Inventory Management System (LIMS) and Electronic Lab Notebook (ELN), announced the inclusion of Toxometris.ai, an artificial intelligence (AI) tool that performs precise in silico toxicity and ADME property predictions of chemicals and substances, in eLabNext’s add-on library, the eLabMarketplace.

The integration of the Toxometris.ai platform enables eLabNext users to access a powerful report on a chemical compounds’ physicochemical, biological, and toxic activity in just a few clicks, reducing researchers’ reliance on expensive and time-consuming wet lab testing in the early stages of pre-clinical drug development.

“Our vision has always been to replace experimental in vivo safety assessment methods with hybrid models that combine in silico and in vitro technologies to minimize the usage of animals for testing,” says Zaven Navoyan, CEO of Toxometris.ai. “Making the Toxometris.ai platform available in the eLabNext software furthers this goal and enables researchers to easily prioritize their leads for further testing, derisk drug candidates, and ultimately, advance the safest and most effective drug products.”

“Many eLabNext users are deeply entrenched in the pharmaceutical R&D, so we are always looking for techniques and technologies that make their jobs easier and more efficient,” comments Zareh Zurabyan, Head of eLabNext, Americas. “As a platform that has long fostered laboratory digitalization, eLabNext has also been excited to adopt powerful AI tools that help users overcome global barriers, like the high failure rate and cost of small molecule drug development. Toxometris’ shared interest in this issue has created a productive partnership with eLabNext, allowing us to offer our users a new technology for advancing promising drug candidates.”  

Currently, the Toxometris.ai add-on supports the following prediction endpoints: Genotoxicity, including AMES, in vitro micronucleus and in vivo micronucleus testing, aqueous solubility, hERG cardiotoxicity, rodent carcinogenicity, and hepatotoxicity predictions. The number of endpoints is constantly increasing and will eventually cover almost all absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion (ADME), and toxicity tests.

About Toxometris.ai
Toxometris.ai is a company that combines expertise from academic research labs focusing on in vitro and in vivo assessment of chemicals and an IT company specializing in different AI applications. Within the company, biologists and machine learning specialists work together to create cutting-edge AI models that predict the outcomes of toxicity assessment tests. Leveraging their collective experience, the team can develop highly accurate prediction models that help ensure the safety of chemicals and substances.

Press Release PDF

Every lab has specific workflows, indispensable equipment, and quirks to their operations. For this reason, our eLabNext platform strives to fit scientists’ flexible needs, to bend (but not break) to accommodate unique lab environments. We provide an open ecosystem that allows our users to personalise their ELN by integrating or customising any functionality within the eLabNext software. 

The following blog explains the rationale behind our open ecosystem and its benefits. 

But first, some definitions.

Introduction to the Open Ecosystem

To understand an open ecosystem, we must first explain some technical details to differentiate closed-source software from open-source software. 

The main difference between closed- and open-source platforms is the availability of the source code and the freedom surrounding the use of the code. 

What is Closed-Source Software?

The source code is unavailable to the public with closed-source software, meaning that only the software distributor's programmers can interact with the source code. The source code is always written in one language and distributed to all users. 

Since closed-source software means no access to the public, the source code is protected and only modifiable by the organisation that has created it. This results in high security but a lack of flexibility. 

A team will always be available to help with issues and questions in a closed-source environment. It will work behind the scenes to gather feedback and constantly improve the user experience, making support rate and usability very high. 

How is Open-Source Different from Closed-Source Software? 

An open-source software source code is available to the public and can be accessed by anyone. This, of course, makes the flexibility of the software much higher since everyone can modify it and customise it to their workflow, but very little support can be offered. 

Furthermore, making the source code publicly accessible also increases the possibility of hackers accessing the software, decreasing security.  

Open-source software is usually developed and used by the same person, meaning the developers are also the users. This is typically challenging for usability since a very straightforward approach for a developer may be more challenging to understand for someone not trained in computer science. Therefore, open-source software usually is less usable than closed-source software.

The Open Ecosystem Approach

At eLabNext, we offer an open ecosystem, a middle ground that integrates both closed- and open-source software benefits. We keep our closed-source foundation but add an extra layer, allowing users to include third-party integrations, develop tailored add-ons, or combine different items into their software to customise it to their workflow and necessities. 

By adding this extra layer, we allow our users to communicate with parts of the source code of eLabNext to extend functionalities, add new features, or integrate third-party software. In an open ecosystem, the software platform is fully customizable. 

So, how can this flexibility be an advantage for your research? 

Instead of being restricted to what your systems vendor provides, you can personalise your ELN depending on what is needed for your lab. If you rely on what your vendor offers, you must pay for new features or tools that your lab might not need. The flexibility of an open ecosystem enables you to adhere to your budget while incorporating the tools you need for your research. It also helps future-proof your lab by allowing you to change the software according to how your focus and workflows will change over time.

The eLabNext source code is largely closed and stored securely. A team of different product specialists is dedicated to working on the development, support, security measurements, and many other aspects of the software, constantly looking for ways to improve the foundational platform. As you use eLabNext, there will be regular updating, constant software monitoring, and several security measures to ensure your data's safety. In addition, market research is done to learn about potential implementations and to receive customer feedback. 

In conclusion, an open ecosystem is the ideal combination of the flexibility of open-source software and the security of closed-source software. 

How to Find an ELN with an Open Ecosystem 

Whether or not a platform has an open ecosystem is not always clear, so there are a couple of steps you can follow so you can be sure that your chosen vendor can deliver an open ecosystem: 

1. Ask for the availability of APIs and Software Development Kits (SDKs): These are the tools to add the extra layer that allows integration and extension.
2. Try it yourself: There is no better way to understand a product than by using it! Ask for a demo and test the APIs as well. This is the best way of getting a clear understanding of the usability of the software and finding out if it can meet the demands and needs of your lab. 
3. Ask questions: If you realise that the support team or your account manager is not responsive to your questions, you can already have an idea of the kind of assistance you will get as a client. Good support is crucial when choosing the system for your lab; you never know what kind of issues you might face in the future, so it is always good to ensure you have a company that will help you with this. 
4. Check security credentials: Security is also essential, and you can make sure that this is also a priority for the company by asking for an ISO certification. Getting an ISO certification is a long and dedicated process that companies go through to demonstrate data security, so having one shows commitment to you as a user.

At eLabNext, users can customise their software by integrating third-party software applications that can work with the data from eLabNext. The API allows you to retrieve data from eLabJournal to process in third-party applications or write data generated by other software systems to eLabJournal.

We also offer our users the ability to extend, integrate, or customise any of eLabJournal's features using our SDKs, software tools, and programs that developers can use to create applications. With our SDK, your team can shape eLabJournal to meet the exact needs of your lab processes by adding new features, creating new buttons to combine functions, and more.

We also offer a Marketplace conveniently available on the eLabNext platform. In the Marketplace, you can find several add-ons developed by us or third-party software companies integrated into eLabNext. Users can easily find, install, and use these tools from the Marketplace immediately.

Most add-ons are free, meaning you don’t need to spend extra money to integrate the tools you already have.

You can test everything, and we are waiting for your questions! Contact us here to access a flexible ELN for your lab’s needs.

If you work in a laboratory, you know how important it is to effectively share equipment and resources with your colleagues. Advances in laboratory technology have given us access to remarkable analyzers and instruments for our research and diagnostic needs. But, while lab equipment can make workflows faster and more cost-effective, there are the added challenges of upfront investment costs, staying organized, continuous upkeep, and integration with other platforms. 

In the following blog, we’ll discuss these struggles in more detail and how to solve them with a simple and accessible solution.

The Problem: De-Centralized and Unconnected Organization

Whether coordinating a small or large lab, managing a suite of equipment and their associated operation is no easy feat. 

Here are a few challenges that we’ve heard over the years:

Lab equipment is spread across different rooms and floors. 

Validation and preventative maintenance schedules vary amongst instruments. 

When equipment issues arise, vital information, like a faded serial number or a lost user manual, can become unexpectedly unavailable.  

Multiple users with different schedules have continuous conflicts with equipment usage.

Different users have different experimental protocols or techniques, requiring time-consuming and error-prone setup transitions.

Many labs try to proactively circumvent these issues by implementing a shared spreadsheet or paper log. These approaches are not designed to be at the forefront of the lab workflow; they become "optional" rather than "necessary." As a result, labs still experience delays and conflicts with equipment reservation and preventative maintenance schedules. A missed re-validation may result in unusable or non-compliant data and potentially weeks of downtime due to part availability or field service engineer scheduling. 

While each scenario is distinct, the result is the same: Limited equipment availability. Ultimately, the consequences can quickly halt research, leading to lost time and money.

The Solution: A Lab-Focused Digital Approach

Without a centralized approach that lab personnel can easily access and utilize, lab efficiency will suffer.

A digital lab platform is designed with the lab's needs in mind and can help you and your colleagues manage lab equipment effectively and efficiently. By having a centralized repository for your lab equipment, you can optimize your workflow, increase productivity, and limit potential equipment downtime.

Here are the top features that can provide significant benefits to your lab:

• Reservation System - Many platforms provide centralized scheduling systems that allow users to book preferred time slots for equipment usage easily. Researchers can view equipment availability in real time with a simple calendar interface, enabling them to plan their experiments accordingly. Additionally, digital lab platforms often include automated notifications and reminders, ensuring users know their scheduled time slots and reducing the chances of equipment being idle or unused. You can also use options to block equipment reservations or change equipment status if repair or maintenance is required. The benefits of these features are fewer scheduling conflicts and higher efficiency.
• Equipment Summary - If something goes wrong or a new technician is getting trained to use a piece of equipment, do you have quick access to vital information? Digital lab platforms allow you to capture and store essential metadata such as equipment specifications, maintenance records, calibration data, and usage history. This centralized approach ensures that researchers have a reliable and up-to-date source of information about the shared equipment. Users can access detailed documentation, including user manuals, operating procedures, and troubleshooting guides, enabling them to make informed decisions and operate the equipment correctly. Furthermore, the platform's search and filtering capabilities allow researchers to quickly locate specific equipment based on parameters like availability, functionality, or compatibility with experimental requirements. 
• Equipment History - Digital lab platforms allow researchers to access a detailed record of past experiments, including experimental parameters, results, and any issues encountered. This historical data provides valuable insights into trends regarding the performance and reliability of the equipment, allowing users to make informed decisions about its suitability for specific experiments. Moreover, tracking equipment history helps identify any recurring problems or patterns of malfunction, enabling proactive maintenance and minimizing downtime.

Try eLabNext's Digital Lab Platform for Your Equipment Management Needs 

Overall, digital lab platforms help optimize the management of shared equipment by streamlining scheduling, increasing equipment uptime, and lengthening the lifetime of an instrument. Additionally, they can help promote collaboration, facilitate remote access to equipment, and “future-proof” your lab. These platforms increase lab efficiency, enable sustainability, improve communication, and enhance productivity in shared lab environments.

eLabNext is the most advanced digital lab platform that can help elevate your laboratory equipment workflow. Request a personal demo or start a free trial today to see how it can integrate seamlessly into your lab’s operations.
You can also explore the eLabMarketplace, where you can find and install add-ons and integrations that suit your specific needs.

In the ever-evolving landscape of laboratory management, staying ahead of the curve is crucial, while safeguarding your data privacy is paramount.

At eLabNext, we understand the importance of ensuring that your data remains under your control. That's why we are excited to introduce two groundbreaking updates that put you in the driver's seat when it comes to AI assistance. First, we've developed generative AI endpoints as a secure proxy into our API. The usage of these endpoints is decided by your explicit consent and actions driven by you, the user. This empowers you with easy access to AI-powered assistance for any custom-made Add-Ons created through our API and SDK tools that will be clearly marked to be using AI technologies. Second, we're launching a brand-new Add-On that can generate protocols based on simple prompts, putting you firmly in control of your laboratory workflow. Your data, your decisions, and your laboratory operations—safeguarded and streamlined.

Introducing the Protocol Generation Add-On

We are excited to introduce our latest Add-On using this new feature – the Protocol Generation Add-On. This powerful tool is designed to make your life in the laboratory even easier.

• Effortless Protocol Creation: Say goodbye to the days of spending hours creating lab protocols manually. With the Protocol Generation Add-On, you can generate detailed protocols by simply providing a few prompts. Describe your experiment, and let the AI do the rest.
• Customizable Templates: Customize generated protocols to suit your specific needs. Fine-tune the generated protocols, ensuring they align perfectly with your research objectives.
• Version Control: Keep track of changes and revisions effortlessly. The Protocol feature in eLabNext maintains a version history of all your protocols, making it easy to review and revert to previous versions if needed.
• Collaboration Made Easy: Collaborate seamlessly with your team by sharing protocols, fostering a more collaborative research environment.

Our commitment to innovation doesn't stop here. We're dedicated to continuously enhancing your laboratory experience. Be on the lookout for more AI-driven Add-Ons coming soon to our marketplace from ourselves and third parties, each designed to tackle specific challenges and streamline various aspects of your laboratory management. We're excited to lead the way in integrating cutting-edge AI technologies into your daily laboratory routines, making your work more efficient, accurate, and productive. Stay tuned for what's next as we pave the path to a smarter, more connected future for laboratory management.

Please note: This add-on is currently only available for cloud users. It will be available to dedicated installations on November 26th.

The power of generative AI

With the integration of generative AI endpoints into our API, we've taken a leap forward in making your laboratory management experience more efficient and insightful. With future Add-Ons created in-house by your own developers or by any third party, it can potentially help you to:

• Seamlessly Integrate: Our generative AI integration seamlessly embeds AI capabilities into your custom Add-Ons, offering AI-driven insights and assistance with just a few lines of code.
• Enhanced Data Analysis: With generative AI, you can perform more advanced data analysis tasks through our API. Whether interpreting complex research results, generating insightful reports, or exploring patterns in your data, these powerful AI capabilities are at your disposal.
• Simplified Documentation: Use our API/SDK combination to streamline your documentation process with generative AI. Create detailed lab reports, experiment summaries, and more, allowing you to focus on your research rather than paperwork.

Conclusion

With the integration of generative AI endpoints into our API and the introduction of the Protocol Generation Add-On, eLabNext is at the forefront of pushing the boundaries in laboratory management. These updates are designed to empower scientists, researchers, and lab managers with advanced AI capabilities that simplify workflows, enhance data analysis, and foster seamless collaboration. We invite third parties to join us in this innovation journey, leveraging our AI tools to build add-ons on the eLabNext platform.

Stay ahead of the curve and harness the full potential of AI in your laboratory with eLabNext. Explore these new features and witness firsthand how they can revolutionize your research and laboratory operations.

Are you ready to experience the future of laboratory management? Contact us today for a free demo and embark on a transformative journey toward a more efficient and insightful research process.

"Why can't I just use Microsoft OneNote as an electronic lab notebook (ELN)?"

It’s a question we hear a lot at eLabNext from various future customers who have made their very first steps on their digital journey. This question is often quickly followed by the question, “Why would we pay more money for an ELN or laboratory sample information storage (LIMS) system if OneNote or Excel can do it?"

Yes, some in our scientific community have adopted the note-taking software OneNote (and other Microsoft programs like Excel) for data acquisition, presentation, sharing, and more.¹ Some even prefer the functionalities of OneNote to ELNs designed for laboratory environments.²

For the basic functions, you may prefer OneNote, but if you need to optimise your laboratory processes or ensure compliance in several different regulatory environments as you scale and move into biotech or pharma manufacturing, then please read on to learn why OneNote is not an adequate solution for biotech start-ups, academic institutions, or even larger biotechs, CROs or pharmaceutical companies.

In the blog below, we’ll show why you might prefer an ELN dedicated to the scientific process over OneNote and save you from future data migration or compliance challenges.

1. Scientific-Specific Features

ELNs are designed with scientific research in mind, offering specialised features tailored to laboratory workflows. They often include functionalities such as experimental templates, structured data entry, integration with other laboratory software and instructions, metadata capture, and data analysis capabilities. These features are essential for effectively organising and analysing scientific data, which may not be present or as comprehensive in OneNote. Microsoft offers templates for the note-taking program; however, these take additional effort to implement and tailor for specific scientific applications. With an ELN dedicated to science, there is a framework built around the storage, retrieval, and sharing of protocols, samples, data, metadata, and more.

2. Regulatory Compliance

Biotech research often involves compliance with regulatory guidelines, such as Good Laboratory or Manufacturing Practices (GLP / GMP) and 21 CFR Part 11. Electronic lab notebooks are specifically developed to meet these regulatory requirements, offering features like electronic signatures, data versioning, audit trails, and controlled access permissions. These compliance-focused features are essential for ensuring data integrity and meeting regulatory standards. These are lacking in OneNote and require customisation or workarounds (e.g., there is no electronic signature capability in OneNote).

3. Data Organization and Search

ELNs provide structured data organisation, allowing you to categorise and tag experiments, samples, and related information. This structured approach enables efficient data search, retrieval, and cross-referencing, making it easier to find specific experiments or data points. OneNote offers basic organisation features but does not provide the same level of flexibility and search capabilities specific to scientific research.

4. Collaboration and Teamwork

Biotech research often involves collaboration among internal team members and with external partners. Electronic lab notebooks offer collaboration features that facilitate real-time collaboration, data sharing, and commenting within the context of specific experiments or projects. ELNs allow multiple users to work simultaneously, track changes, and maintain a complete record of collaboration activities. While OneNote does support collaboration, it may not provide the same granularity and integration with laboratory workflows as ELNs. For instance, OneNote doesn’t allow sharing a single entry, so if you need to share one section with an external collaborator, you’ll need to start a new ELN with just the entries you want to share in them.

5. Integration with Laboratory Instruments and Software

ELNs can often integrate with laboratory instruments and other scientific software tools. This integration allows direct data transfer from instruments to the ELN, eliminating manual transcription and reducing the chances of errors. It also enables seamless integration with bioinformatics tools, data analysis platforms, and research data management systems. Two great examples of this at eLabNext are with Implen NanoPhotometer and Elemental Machines temperature (humidity, pressure, and light) monitoring for your samples. On the other hand, OneNote does not offer the same level of integration and interoperability with scientific instruments and software (at the time of writing this article, August 2023).

6. Data Security and Intellectual Property Protection

ELNs typically provide advanced data security measures, including user authentication, access controls, encryption, and secure cloud storage options. These security features are essential for protecting sensitive research data and intellectual property. While OneNote offers some security features, ELNs are specifically designed with data protection in mind and may provide more robust security measures for scientific research data. eLabnext is ISO 27001 accredited and is the most secure laboratory software on the market today.

Why Use Software Designed For a Different Task…

…when eLabNext’s ELN is specifically designed for the life science laboratory? Microsoft OneNote is a practical, general-purpose note-taking application.

However, ELNs offer specialised features and capabilities specifically designed for scientific research workflows and compliance requirements.

Would you use a screwdriver to hammer in a nail?

Let the note-taking programs be used for note-taking, and the ELNs, for streamlining the life sciences.

If your biotech start-up focuses on laboratory research, data management, collaboration, and regulatory compliance, an ELN is a more suitable choice than OneNote.

Why not request a free 30-day trial of eLabNext’s digital lab platform today and try it yourself? Together, we can uncover the benefits above and many, many more!

References:
1. Guerrero S, López-Cortés A, García-Cárdenas JM, et al. A quick guide for using Microsoft OneNote as an electronic laboratory notebook. PLOS Comput Biol. 2019;15(5):e1006918. doi:10.1371/journal.pcbi.1006918
2. Guerrero S, Dujardin G, Cabrera-Andrade A, et al. Analysis and Implementation of an Electronic Laboratory Notebook in a Biomedical Research Institute. PLoS ONE. 2016;11(8):e0160428. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0160428

Philadelphia, PA - With a moniker like “Cellicon Valley,” exceptional academic institutions, a skilled workforce, and steadily growing infrastructure, it’s no surprise that Philadelphia was recently ranked as the #5 life science hub in the U.S. One component supporting Philadelphia’s growing and active biotech community is the lab and office space, essential for providing a physical place that fosters the growth of the many promising startups in the community. 

With all the excitement around the growth of the scientific community in the City of Brotherly Love, the Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC) opened a coworking wet lab space to give scrappy startups a place to let their auspicious ideas flourish. 

“What’s special about CIC’s space in Philly is that it accommodates early-stage scientists with passion and data to support their ideas,” says Kelsey Henderson, the Lab Development Lead at CIC. “We enable them to come in and rent a single bench on flexible terms, have it for a month, and focus on raising capital to expand their operations.”

CIC’s approach has been incredibly successful, allowing CIC to provide adjustable support to pre-seed companies, several of which have grown from a few benches to a private lab space of over 35 lab benches. This philosophy extends to CIC’s other locations as well: With coworking spaces located in biotech hubs around the globe – including Boston, Cambridge, Providence, St. Louis, Miami, Tokyo, Rotterdam, and Warsaw – CIC operates to provide their innovators with the maximum chance to impact the life sciences and the many other industries CIC serves.

Providing Support for the Next-Generation of Life Science Companies

But physical space is only part of the equation for the companies that CIC serves. 

“A lot of our clients are academic spinouts,” explains Kelsey, “so it's a big step for them to start in a new co-working or private lab space. We’ve organised our labs to provide scientists with things to help them and accelerate their progress.” 

That includes various amenities, including an in-house lab management team that handles equipment and consumables ordering, regular lab coat and facilities cleaning, hazardous waste disposal, and many others. In addition, CIC provides an extensive collection of shared molecular and cell biology equipment – including flow cytometers, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), cell sorters and separators, tissue culture facilities, ultra-low temperature (ULT) freezers, digital PCR (dPCR) platforms, and various cell imaging platforms – available for unmetered use. This enables startups to access vital equipment without raising the capital to purchase it.

“We always try to focus on making decisions that support our scientists,” Kelsey shares. “CIC recently doubled the footprint of our physical lab space in Philadelphia because we wanted to accommodate the continued growth of our current cohort.”

Digital Infrastructure that Fosters Growth

Beyond the lab space, shared equipment, and personnel support, many companies need a digital infrastructure to grow and scale efficiently. To help the scientific teams at their Philadelphia site, CIC partnered with eLabNext so that residents could access an all-in-one electronic lab notebook and sample, equipment, and protocol management tools, enabling complete digitalization of a lab.

“We’ve had clients use eLabNext’s digital lab platform at our site before, so we talked to them about how we could best support our community,” says Kelsey. “We worked out a sponsorship agreement so all of our shared wet lab clients can access the software at a discounted rate, allowing them to see how it performs in their workflows and integrates into their SOPs. With our focus on enabling clients’ growth, we wanted to provide them with products that help them do that. Choosing eLabNext’s platform was a no-brainer.”

The eLabNext platform also provides a growing library of add-ons to expand the software's functionality and facilitate startups to tailor it to their needs.

“One of the most attractive features of partnering with CIC was the alignment around the same values: aiding innovation, elevating research, and doing so in a vibrant ecosystem with incentivized programs, says Zareh Zurabyan, Head of eLabNext, Americas. “We know that providing a robust digital lab strategy to a startup will not only set them up for successful fundraising, reproduction of experiments, and data mining, but it will impact their business strategy and facilitate innovation. With all the new amazing artificial intelligence/machine learning advances that are now available, labs want to be able to diversify their tools. We can provide that to them directly with our Digital Lab Platform and our eLabMarketplace. These are very exciting times, and we are excited to work with all the CIC labs!” 

Philadelphia's reputation as a thriving life science hub is well-deserved, and the CIC has played, and will continue to play, a significant role in supporting the growth of the city's biotech community through physical and digital infrastructure.

To learn more about Philadalphia’s growing life science sector, visit cic.com.

Where do you see your lab in five years? 

Will daily operations become fully automated with the latest robotic enhancements? 

Or will your data collection systems be integrated with AI solutions to deliver breakthrough insights faster?

While we may not be able to predict the future here at eLabNext, we think about it every day while we help our customers establish a healthy digital foundation that prepares them for wherever their research takes them in the coming years. Whether you’re just starting your digitalization journey or are a seasoned eLabNext user, here are five recommendations that you can use to “future-proof” your digital lab space.

#1: Identify Your Digital Leaders

Remember that digitalization is a marathon, not a sprint. 

Spending weeks or even months transitioning the lab’s data and workflows into your digital lab space is common. Assign a point person or steering committee to oversee this process and take ownership of decisions related to the eLabNext platform, such as how to set up the group’s sample types. These members can also serve as “super-users” of the platform who train other end users on how to use the platform in the context of their lab environment. As your lab grows into the system over time, you’ll have developed a go-to team of product experts within your organization who can anticipate the direction of your research and recommend changes to digital workflows.

#2: Define Your Local Policies

If this is your team’s first time using a Digital Lab Platform (DLP), introduce healthy digital practices within the lab from the start! Check out eLabNext’s various policies and settings at the account and group levels to standardize your date and time settings, enforce minimum password requirements, or activate signature workflows for signing off on experiments and SOPs. For labs that need to observe security or compliance rules, these are handy opportunities to “nudge” users toward certain behaviors.

If your organization has purchased a private cloud or on-premises hosting, don’t forget to check out the enterprise settings for additional options.

#3: Establish a Role-Based Hierarchy

Everyone has a job to do, and your digital lab space should reflect that! 

All group members get assigned a role within the eLabNext platform, which determines what types of actions they can perform. Look at the makeup of your team and consider creating roles that reflect the various responsibilities within your lab: For example, a junior technician should only be able to edit their own experiments, whereas a PI has full access to all ELN entries. A well-defined hierarchy not only aligns users’ digital experience with their day-to-day tasks, but it also protects access to potentially sensitive data and prevents users from inadvertently making changes to workflow-critical resources.

#4: Develop Strong Naming Conventions

Have you ever compared notes with a colleague and had to decipher their shorthand for a sample record? A misinterpreted note can spell disaster for reproducing research findings, so we emphasize the importance of creating consistent naming conventions. Developing a standardized naming system will ensure that records remain organized as more information is added to the group over time, making it easier to search your database for a particular experiment.

#5: Customize Your Digital Lab Space for Your Needs

When it comes to lab digitalization, there is no one-size-fits-all, off-the-shelf digital solution.

That’s why eLabNext offers a range of add-ons (many are free through our Marketplace) that can expand your lab’s capabilities with utilities, custom sections, device integrations, and connections with various third-party platforms. Users can pick and choose which features support their specific workflow needs to keep their interface clean and focused.

And for any tech-savvy team members, you can even build your own Marketplace add-on using our development toolkit! Check out our Developer Experience to learn more about our open API, JavaScript-based SDK, getting started guides, and some recipes for popular add-on templates.

With the right preparations, your lab will be ready to adapt to whatever new technologies or research challenges the future holds! To learn more about what steps your team can take to future-proof your lab space, schedule a consultation with your eLabNext Digital Lab Specialist.

If you’ve ever scanned your ID badge to open a door, driven through the E-ZPass lane on a toll road, or used tap-and-go to pay at the gas station, then you’ve used RFID.

Today, RFID (radio frequency identification) technology is used in various ways in everyday life because it makes tasks like the ones above faster and more convenient.

For this reason, RFID is also gaining popularity as a tool for chemical inventory. In this article, we’ll look at how RFID chemical inventory tracking works, as well as some reasons why you might consider using RFID for chemical inventory.

How does RFID work as a chemical inventory tracking solution?

RFID is a technology that uses radio waves to transmit information. First, small RFID tags are attached to individual chemical containers. Each RFID tag transmits a unique ID number, which is linked to a record in a database containing information about the item. This information can include details such as chemical name, expiration date, manufacturer details, and more.

These tags can be read using handheld RFID readers or scanners, which emit radio waves that communicate with the RFID tags.

When tagged items come within the range of RFID scanners, the scanners read the ID number stored in the RFID tags. This eliminates the need for you to scan each individual container, allowing you to reconcile your inventory in a fraction of the time it would normally take.

Naturally, RFID chemical inventory is more expensive than barcoding. However, it’s also more convenient and reliable, making it well worth the upfront investment.

But don’t just take our word for it: In the retail sector, for instance, 93% of North American companies are using RFID technology for inventory tracking. Of these businesses, those that have fully adopted RFID are reporting more than 10% return on their investment.

Benefits of RFID for tracking chemical inventories

Accuracy

RFID tracking is — not surprisingly — more accurate than manual barcode scans. By automatically scanning containers, RFID readers remove the potential for manual errors. You don’t have to worry about typing in numbers correctly or reading each individual barcode. The RFID reader does this for you!

RFID also reduces the chances of you missing inventory items. How so? Unlike barcodes, RFID tags don’t need to be visible to be scanned. This means that tags can be read even if they’re inside cabinets, packages, or hidden from view.

On average, companies that adopt RFID see their inventory accuracy go from 63% to 95%.

Real-time inventory visibility

Even with an accurate inventory, it can be difficult to locate a specific container in a lab or storage area that may have hundreds or thousands of different bottles. However, RFID technology can streamline this process by enabling precise and efficient container tracking.

Once containers have been tagged, handheld RFID readers can be used like a metal detector to locate a specific container. All you have to do is enter the tag ID for the container you need, and the reader will alert you when you’re in proximity to the tagged container. Think how much time this would save you!

RFID also makes it easier to manage your chemical inventory in real time. By strategically placing scanners near disposal areas, you can track the transition of containers from “active” to “disposed” status. This information can help you monitor inventory levels, optimize purchasing, and reduce waste.

Cost-effectiveness

RFID delivers huge benefits in terms of cost and time savings. Studies by Auburn University have shown that using RFID expands inventory count rates from 200 to 20,000+ items an hour. In other words, employees are able to complete their inventory counts 100X faster. Just think how this could impact your chemical inventory! When you consider the hourly cost of FTEs, the potential for savings is enormous.

And there’s more good news: Until recently, RFID was a luxury reserved for retail giants like Amazon and Walmart. But as RFID has grown in popularity, prices have gone down considerably— making it a cost-effective solution for chemistry labs.

According to McKinsey, the cost of RFID readers has fallen by nearly 50%, and the cost of tags has fallen around 80% With a host of affordable RFID scanners and tags on the market, this technology is poised to become a standard part of the chemistry lab’s inventory management arsenal.

A few other suggestions to keep costs low:

• Opt for RFID tags with printed tag IDs and optical barcodes. This way, you can use less expensive barcode scanners for routine inventory tasks, and share pricier RFID readers among groups for reconciliation or locating containers as needed.
• Consider implementing a chemical RFID solution for only a portion of your inventory, such as high-hazard areas and/or chemical areas with the most varied and dynamic records. (SciShield’s ChemTracker software can accommodate a mix of RFID, barcoded, and non-labeled containers.)

Improved compliance

With RFID, you can see where chemicals are stored within your lab and in what quantities. This makes staying in compliance with regulations easy.

RFID tags attached to chemical containers enable accurate tracking of each container. This aids in maintaining an up-to-date record of where chemicals are located, ensuring compliance with storage, handling, and disposal requirements.

RFID also allows you to keep tabs on how much of each chemical you have on hand. For instance, you can see when there are multiple containers of the same chemical. Not only does this help you avoid purchasing duplicates, it also helps you stay within regulatory limits by ensuring that everything present in your lab is accounted for.

On the flip side, RFID technology can also help to ensure that chemicals that are no longer physically present are removed from inventory records. Why is this important? One of the most common errors in chemical inventory happens because users forget to remove inventory records from the system when chemicals are consumed or discarded. This results in overreporting of chemical quantities, which can make it seem like chemical storage areas are out of compliance with hazardous material limits when they are actually not.

Next steps

RFID is becoming a popular method for chemical inventory tracking — and for good reason. Using RFID offers many benefits, including accuracy, real-time visibility, cost savings, and improved compliance. To learn more about the options available to you, check out our free guide to chemical inventory software or request a consultation with our expert team.

In and out of the life sciences, the conversation about artificial intelligence (AI) is impossible to avoid. Because AI has crossed over into mainstream culture, the discussion about the pros and cons of its use is amplified. As with any new technology, there is fear and calls for an immediate half-year moratorium on research.

The flip side is the radical optimism espoused by Sam Altman of Open AI, with statements about its ability to improve the human condition. This sentiment is at the centre of the concept of human-centric AI, which we at eLabNext believe can benefit the biotech community. The following blog will discuss the basics of human-centric AI and how it can drive positive change in today’s modern biotech labs.

What is Human-Centric AI?

Human-centric AI refers to designing, developing, and deploying AI systems that prioritize the well-being, needs, and values of humans. In other words, it's the use of AI to improve the human condition.

Key Principles of Human-Centric AI 

To ensure that AI systems are developed and deployed in ways that align with human interests, some guiding principles have emerged to help those actively engaged in AI work towards improving the human condition.

1. Transparency & Explainability: Make AI systems explainable and understandable to humans, ensuring transparency in decision-making.
2. Fairness and Avoiding Bias: Mitigate biases and guarantee fair treatment of individuals from diverse backgrounds, considering factors such as gender, race, or socioeconomic status.
3. Privacy and Data Protection: Respect individuals' privacy rights and implement robust data protection measures to safeguard sensitive information.
4. User Empowerment, User Control, and Autonomy: Design AI systems that empower individuals by giving them control, autonomy, and the ability to understand and influence AI's behaviour.
5. Collaborative Interaction: Encourage human-AI collaboration and create AI systems that complement human capabilities, fostering teamwork and shared decision-making.
6. Social & Environmental Impact: Assess the broader societal consequences of AI deployment and strive to address potential negative impacts while maximizing positive outcomes.
7. Robustness and Reliability: Develop AI systems focusing on reliability, robustness, and safety, minimizing the potential for errors, biases, or unintended consequences. Adequate testing, validation, and risk assessment procedures should be in place.
8. Ethical Governance: Integrate ethical considerations into all stages of AI development, including data collection, algorithm design, deployment, and monitoring.

Applying Human-Centric AI in Biotech

AI is already being applied in healthcare, where it’s being used to directly enhance the human condition with better disease detection and prediction.

Further upstream, in the biotech discovery or drug and diagnostic development spaces, human-centric AI enables vetting drug candidates, developing fruitful pre-clinical testing strategies, and more. There have been early adopters of AI systems and those who are more cautious, waiting until the dust clears to implement AI into their workflows.

Whether you fall into one camp or another, AI implementation in a laboratory environment requires a robust digital infrastructure. For those utilizing old-school, in-house built systems or pen-and-paper record-keeping with no long-term digitalization strategy, harnessing AI's power is bound to be a multi-stage, lengthy, and costly process. The foundation for being a human-centric AI biotech company is having a robust digital foundation across the board, from day-to-day sample management to large-scale raw file data control.

Ultimately, it comes down to having a Digital Lab Strategy that can lead your organization to implement human-centric AI more seamlessly, either now or in the not-too-distant future. 

Start Your Lab’s Digital Journey Today

Are your samples and experiments digitized? Can you easily access and analyze your data? Is there a healthy collaborative culture and technical capability?

If so, then the rest is easy. Schedule a free personal demo with our digitalization specialist to get started!

The goal for anyone working in laboratory automation is to “set it and forget it.”

In a perfect world, we could set up an assay on an instrument of our choosing, start the program, and walk away to do one of the other thousands of things on our “to-do” list. 

Even though automation has gotten more powerful and precise, the amount of time you can walk away from a machine without worry – appropriately called walkaway time – requires trust and confidence in your instrument, infrastructure, and yourself. It also requires some optimization.

There are many ways to increase your walkaway time. In the following blog, we’ll talk about the top brands in laboratory automation and some strategies to increase your walkaway time. 

Top 10 Laboratory Automation Brands

Several top brands have established themselves as leaders in lab automation, offering cutting-edge solutions to streamline laboratory workflows and enhance efficiency. These brands shape the future of lab automation, enabling scientists to achieve higher productivity and reproducibility in their research endeavors.

Here are the top 10 lab automation brands:

1. Eppendorf: Eppendorf is known for its wide range of laboratory equipment, including the epMotion^® series of automated liquid handlers that improve pipetting accuracy and precision for reproducible results.
2. Promega: Promega offers automation solutions for various applications, including nucleic acid extraction, DNA quantification, and genotyping. Their Maxwell series of instruments is well-regarded in the field.
3. Hamilton Robotics: Hamilton Robotics specializes in advanced robotic systems for liquid handling, sample preparation, and plate handling. Their Microlab series and STAR workstations are widely used in biotech labs. Check out this case study to see how these instruments were used to build an automated COVID-19 testing facility at Boston University.
4. Beckman Coulter: Known for their Biomek series of liquid handling robots, Beckman Coulter offers versatile and reliable automation solutions for various laboratory workflows.
5. Tecan: Tecan is a leading provider of laboratory automation solutions, including liquid handling systems, plate handlers, and integrated workstations such as the Fluent and Freedom EVO platforms.
6. Thermo Fisher Scientific: Thermo Fisher Scientific offers a comprehensive range of laboratory automation solutions, including plate handlers, liquid handling systems, and integrated workstations like the Cytomat and Orbitor series.
7. QIAGEN: QIAGEN provides various automated nucleic acid extraction and purification solutions, such as the QIAcube and QIAxtractor systems, broadly used in molecular biology and genomics research.
8. Agilent Technologies: Agilent Technologies offers a diverse portfolio of laboratory automation solutions, including liquid chromatography systems, sample preparation platforms, and robotic workstations like the Bravo and VWorks series.
9. PerkinElmer: PerkinElmer provides various automation solutions for high-throughput screening, imaging, and data analysis. Their Janus and Opera systems are used in drug discovery and genomics research.
10. Illumina: Illumina, a leader in next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies, offers automation solutions for library preparation and sequencing, including the NovaSeq Prep System and the iSeq library prep kits.

Personally, I like GenieLife and OpenTrons. They are newer players in the lab automation game, but I highly recommend looking into them.

6 Strategies For Increasing Your Walkaway Time

Everyone could do for a few more minutes in their day. By increasing your walkaway time, you and your team can reclaim some of your precious time to take care of important tasks.

Here are some ways to optimize your lab’s workflows and increase your walkaway time.

Process in Batches

Optimize the use of robotics by performing tasks in batches. Group similar experiments or assays together and schedule them to run sequentially or in parallel, allowing the robot to perform multiple tasks in a single run. This approach can minimize downtime and maximize the use of resources, increasing your walkaway time.

Optimize Resources

Ensure that all necessary resources, such as consumables, reagents, and samples, are readily available before initiating automated processes. Stock up on commonly used items to minimize interruptions. Implement automated inventory management systems to track and replenish supplies as needed, reducing the need for manual intervention.

Monitor and Maintain

Regularly monitor the performance of your robotic systems and automation equipment to identify potential issues or errors. Implement preventive maintenance schedules to keep the equipment in optimal condition. This proactive approach can reduce unexpected downtimes.

Create Redundant and Failover System

Implement redundant systems and failover mechanisms where possible to minimize the impact of equipment failures or malfunctions. Having backup robotic systems or spare parts readily available can help ensure continuous operation and increase the walkaway time.

Manage Data Efficiently

Implement a robust data management and analysis system to handle the large volumes of data generated during automated processes. Utilize bioinformatics pipelines and software tools to automate data processing, analysis, and reporting. This reduces the need for manual data handling.

Ensure that your digital lab platform of choice has an Open API and SDK to allow you to connect your robots and software systems. This enables you to perform complicated tasks in a multi-dimensional ecosystem and utilize AI/ML to access the data for analysis.

Get Digital…

…but do it strategically. Implementing a digital lab strategy is essential to keep your software and instruments in a connected web that drives efficient experimentation, data analysis, collaboration, and accessibility. All of this enhances the walkaway time for your instruments and facilitates the removal of manual activities like exporting data, processing raw data, and more.

Conclusion

What’s your walkaway time? If you’d like to increase it and be more efficient, try some of the steps above to make your lab more streamlined. And don’t forget about other important aspects of lab operations, including quality and precision. After all, even if your walkaway time is high, you're just wasting time and money if you’re generating low-quality, inaccurate data.

To explore how you can increase and optimize your walkaway time, schedule a free personal demo today!

Cyber attacks have become a significant concern for life science businesses and research organisations in today's digital world. Recently, a cyber attack on a research institution, The Kaiserslautern University of Applied Sciences in Germany, led to a complete shutdown of their IT network.

And they are not the only life science organisation to suffer such a blow to their operations: The University of Zurich had a severe cyber attack in early 2023, and many others have endured similar issues.

The problem exists across all industries, with cyber attacks increasing since 2019 – more than 300% from 2019 to 2020 – driven primarily by the pandemic and new adjustments to remote work. However, in the life sciences, where laboratories play a crucial role in scientific progress, researchers need to adopt robust security measures.

Lab heads and managers can help protect their operations by choosing software platforms that take data security into account. For those who work in digitised labs, the electronic lab notebook (ELN) software providers offer different possibilities to ensure data security. In this blog post, we will discuss the essential features to look for, the pros and cons of a cloud-based and on-premise hosting solution,  and what to consider regarding cyber security. 

Security Infrastructure and Dynamic Security Measures

A cloud-based hosting solution offers the advantage of scalable and dynamic security measures and a robust security infrastructure provided by the cloud service provider. As cyber threats evolve, cloud providers can quickly implement and update security protocols to address new vulnerabilities. This includes deploying patches, updates, and enhanced security features across their entire infrastructure, benefiting all users of the cloud-based ELN. These providers invest heavily in state-of-the-art security measures, including advanced firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and encryption protocols, which result in a comprehensive and resilient infrastructure.

With an on-premise installation, customers have more control and customization over the security infrastructure. Organisations can implement specific security protocols and access, which might be regulatory requirements when working with sensitive data. Should you decide to go for an on-premise installation, investing in and maintaining your organisation's security infrastructure is crucial. This includes regularly implementing and updating security measures, which usually require significant resources and expertise. 

Enhanced Resilience and Disaster Recovery

Another essential point to remember when choosing a hosting solution is what happens in the event of a cyber attack. How fast can you be back on your feet to continue working?

A cloud-based solution usually offers the advantage of resilience and disaster recovery capabilities. Cloud providers operate in multiple data centres across various geographic locations, which minimises the impact of a single point of failure. This ensures that even if one data centre is compromised, operations can seamlessly transition to another location, minimising service disruption.  Furthermore, cloud providers backup data automatically and regularly, allowing for easy recovery in case of data loss or system failures. Additionally, providers have dedicated disaster recovery plans and infrastructure, ensuring that services can be quickly restored after significant incidents. This relieves the organisation from managing its disaster recovery infrastructure and simplifies the data restoration process.

Given that in an on-premise solution, the customer has direct control over its hardware and infrastructure, the level of resilience and disaster recovery strategy will depend on the organisation. It is crucial for customers with an on-premise installation to implement redundant systems, backup power supplies, and failover mechanisms to ensure continued operations in case of a cyber attack. Additionally, these organisations need to have a disaster recovery strategy, which includes performing regular data backups, rigorous testing, and maintaining off-site backup facilities. 

Expert Security Monitoring and Response

Cloud-based ELN software has the benefit of security monitoring and response experts. These providers usually have a dedicated security team equipped with advanced security tools and technologies to monitor the cloud infrastructure for potential threats. This allows them to proactively identify and respond to security incidents, leveraging their experience with a wide range of clients and attack patterns. Cloud providers have also established incident response protocols to swiftly and efficiently handle cyber attack threats. In a security incident, they can quickly contain the threat, investigate the root cause, and implement necessary remediation measures.

In contrast, on-premise solutions require the organisation to establish and maintain its expert security monitoring team. This team is responsible for continuously monitoring the network, system logs, and user activities to detect suspicious or anomalous behaviour. In the event of a cyber-attack threat or breach, the on-premise security team takes immediate action to contain the threat and mitigate the damage. Since the response time and effectiveness heavily rely on the expertise and experience of the in-house team, it is important the organisation invests in hiring and training cybersecurity experts. 

A Final Word on Vetting a Cloud-Based vs On-Premise Hosted ELN

Cloud-based ELNs offer many advantages, but you and your team are responsible for carefully and meticulously investigating the security measures offered by a cloud provider and ensuring that they align with their specific security requirements and the compliance standards you need. 

One way to ensure that a cloud provider follows international standards for quality security and data protection is to check for their ISO Certifications. The most relevant ISO Certification is ISO 27001, which focuses on information security management systems (ISMS) and ensures the provider can effectively manage and protect sensitive data.

On-premise solutions offer greater control over security measures and allow you to keep sensitive data within the organisation's boundaries. Still, they pressure your organisation to build and maintain your security monitoring and response capabilities. Implementing all these measures can cost significant time and money.

Ultimately, choosing between an on-premise Installation and a cloud-based solution will depend on factors like an organisation's resources, security expertise, data sensitivity, and regulatory requirements. While on-premises solutions offer more direct control over general security measures, they also require higher resources and in-house management. On the contrary, cloud-based solutions provide convenience and potential benefits from specialised expertise but require trust in the cloud provider's security practices.

Contact us today to talk to eLabNext about your ELN and data security needs!

Biofoundries are a relatively new player in biotechnology, but they’ve rapidly become hubs of innovation and scientific advancement. These multidisciplinary centres combine concepts from computer sciences, engineering, and biology to transform basic research findings into widespread societal change. With biofoundries positioned to solve global issues, including pandemic preparedness, we’ve put together the following guide on the keys to building a successful biofoundry.

Let’s start with the basics.

What is a Biofoundry?

A biofoundry is an integrated facility that combines biological, chemical biology, and engineering systems with tools like automation, high-throughput measurement, integrated data analysis, and artificial intelligence (AI) to enable feedback loops that facilitate iterative end-to-end cycles of design, build, test, and learn.

7 Guidelines for Successful Biofoundry Operations

In a multidisciplinary setting like this, you can imagine many difficulties that hinder progress can arise. Chief among them is data connectivity and ensuring that all instruments, personnel, and software communicate effectively. 

So, how do you navigate those challenges and ensure that your bio-foundry operations continue smoothly?

Often, labs throw a lot of money into purchasing the latest toys and assume that everything can be automated. But automation starts with a strong foundation of standardised practices.  Biofoundries must have an overall workflow schema that is tested and optimised before the fancy toys even enter the lab.

Here are 7 steps to building a connected, successful biofoundry.

Build an Infrastructure

Biofoundry success starts with a framework that supports all personnel, equipment, and software. When creating your infrastructure, consider the following:

• Standardisation: As simple as developing naming conventions for samples, services, equipment, projects, and programs is, it can go a long way in setting the stage for your biofoundry to grow into a functional ecosystem. Standardisation plays into how you manage your data, accessibility, and collaboration between departments and teams. 
• Scalability: You’re not just planning for now but five years from now. What will the new liquid handling robots look like, and what new functionalities will they have? How can AI and ML be used for data analysis based on how you collect your data? More importantly, what do your organisation's needs look like now and in the future? If one robot breaks and a new one comes in, or one lab tech leaves and another one comes in, how short will your downtime be, and how fast will you be able to get back to full speed? Think about whether or not you’ll be able to expand your workflows and instruments as you grow.
• Interdisciplinary expertise: The future is collaborative. And so is the present. Traditionally, chemists and biologists worked separately. It is the same for IT folks, computational biologists, and bioinformaticians. Each individual must have interdisciplinary expertise to work with people from different research backgrounds. Personnel must also have exceptional project management skills to ensure no data loss and full ownership of projects. 

Spend Strategically

Fancy robots cost a lot of money. Be sure to evaluate your biofoundry’s values. Do you need to pay for that liquid handler that is accurate to within 0.000001 mL? If so, make it a strategic purchase, as part of your business plan. 

If not, there are many other reliable and less expensive robots out there that can get the job done for you. 

Other budget considerations include:

• Training and education: There will be a constant need to train and educate. A strong budget for these initiatives is essential for your organisation's and personnel's continued growth.
• External services and collaborations: Developing relationships with business partners like DNA sequencing companies or custom manufacturers will enable your biofoundry to expand capabilities and increase efficiency.
• Office and lab space: Using Boston as an example, lab and office space in Kendall Square is pretty saturated, and the cost of office space is extremely high. It is important to consider the location for biofoundry positioning, client generation, staff travel, and more. In Boston specifically, Watertown, Woburn, and Natick have emerging biotech scenes with 40% less associated cost, so considering other areas outside of the “limelight” may be in your budget’s best interest.

Follow Regulatory Guidelines

GxP or 21CFR Part11 compliance might not be necessary for your lab; however, ensuring you don’t step out of compliance will bring more trust and accuracy to your workflows.

Compliance with specific regulations can also open inroads to fruitful collaborations. Consider GDPR, CLIA, and HIPAA compliance to attract partnerships with hospitals and other healthcare companies. 

Forge a Tribe with a Culture of Collaboration

As remote work has taken over, prioritising company culture has fallen by the wayside. People are getting fired on Zoom and sending passive-aggressive emails about a minor conflict when a face-to-face conversation over coffee will do. Thoughtful and conscious communication has disappeared. But in a multidisciplinary environment, like a biofoundry, openness to transparent communication must be in the organisation's DNA. 

Establishing stand-up meetings, consistent training regimens, and facilitating a culture of incentivized ideas and suggestions will go a long way. There are always great ideas for optimization that frequently get lost in the mix due to poor communication or fear of rejection. 

Communication about operations can also be streamlined and clarified through digital platforms, where workflows and protocols can be accessed, tracked, and updated to maintain and optimise biofoundry performance.

Adjust to New Tech and Evaluate

We frequently mistake looking at a period of plateau in performance as a “good enough” result when, in reality, it is just short-term stability. In the age of AI/ML, where software and robotics are updated a minimum of 4 times a year, training, educating, and motivating staff to stay updated with the latest technologies is essential. This encourages a culture of constant improvement and experimentation. But, be sure to evaluate how these adjustments affect your performance: If a new tool isn’t suiting you, move on and look for another solution.

Optimise for Walkaway Time

One of the most underestimated tools in biofoundries is automation. Your robot may be fancy, but if you have to tend it every 5 minutes or don’t trust its performance, then you’re not using automation to its full potential. Measure the success of your automation based on the time you can use your instrument with confidence that a protocol will run precisely as you intend. 

Develop a Data Strategy

The most important aspect of biofoundry automation is developing a digital lab and data strategy. In short, that means how you will digitise your biofoundry’s operations.

Defining a strong sample strategy (i.e., A systematic plan for handling, processing, and analysing samples) right from the beginning is imperative to successful lab operations. Next, consider the data that will be generated from sample analysis.

Key questions include: 

• What instruments will be used to generate data? Are they ISO certified, secure, and compliant?
• Does your digital platform (e.g., ELN, LIMS, etc.) have an open API/SDK for integrations and data analysis? Can it integrate with your favourite robots and other software you use in the lab?
• Is your platform future-proof?  Will you outgrow it once you scale operations?

Conclusion

In an article in Nature about Flagship Pioneering (an early backer of Moderna), the consensus is clear: Biotech innovators derive numerous benefits from software that connects their operations. Digital lab platforms that enhance collaboration between chemists, biologists, bioinformaticians, and other biofoundry personnel are becoming the norm in our post-pandemic world.

And the benefits are tangible. Flagship Pioneering’s Aram Adourian says, “In our groups, experiments are often planned between wet lab teams and computational teams, enabling a sort of iterative, back-and-forth optimization process to address the biological questions at hand.” 

In a biofoundry, this is the fabric that holds everything together! 

To find out more and get a detailed free consultation on managing your biofoundry better and defining its Digital Lab Strategy, schedule a personal demo today!

Labs and organizations never skimp on developing a solid, well-researched business strategy. 

However, the starting point for data, intellectual property, and scientific publications – biological and/or chemical samples – are often ignored during strategic planning meetings,  falling by the wayside as a byproduct of overall lab operations. 

With the introduction of the Sample Strategy, this is changing. Here, we present to you a new perspective on lab operations, where Sample Management becomes the foundational fabric of the lab, enabling the future-proofing of operations. 

Let’s start with what a sample strategy is.

What is a Sample Strategy?

In a laboratory setting, a sample strategy refers to a systematic plan for handling, processing, and analyzing samples. It involves defining a study's objectives, determining the type and number of samples required, and establishing the appropriate collection methods, storage conditions, and handling protocols. A well-designed sample strategy ensures the reliability and reproducibility of experimental results, minimizes potential biases, and maximizes the efficiency of laboratory resources.

To help you formulate your sample strategy, let’s focus on some key questions to consider throughout the lifecycle of a sample.

Sample Selection

This involves determining the appropriate type and number of samples to be collected. It considers factors such as the purpose of the study, the environmental, biological, or chemistry specimen being sampled, and any specific criteria or guidelines that need to be followed.

Key Questions

• What are your sample types?
  • Cell lines? 
  • Plasmids?
  • Antibodies?
  • Biospecimens? 
  • Chemicals?
  • Live animals or plants?
• What are the metadata fields that you keep track of?
  • Date of the collection? 
  • Sequence
  • Passage number
  • SMILES code
  • GeneBank file
• What files, images, and references must be linked to your sample? 

Sample Collection

This step involves physically obtaining the samples according to pre-determined protocols. It may include techniques such as sampling from a larger batch, using specialized equipment or instruments, or following specific procedures to ensure consistency and accuracy.

Key Questions

• Are you using automation-like scanners, QR Codes, mobile apps, and/or pre-barcoded tubes for collection? 
• Do you plan on labeling your samples after the fact? If so, which printers are you using?
• Can you easily collect, move, and update your samples? 

Sample Storage

Proper storage of samples ensures long-term stability and maintenance of sample integrity. It can involve sample dilution in a new buffer, cryoprotectant, or lyophilization before storage. In addition, the temperature and storage container are both considerations for your sample strategy.

Key Questions

• Where are you physically storing your samples (e.g., fridge, freezer, cryotank, etc.)
• Where are you storing digital information associated with your samples?
• Do you monitor the temperature and the viability of your samples? 

Sample Handling

Proper handling of samples is also crucial to maintain their integrity and prevent contamination or degradation. This may include labeling, preservation, storage conditions (e.g., temperature, humidity), and transportation considerations. Adhering to standard operating procedures (SOPs) is important to maintain the quality of the samples.

Key Questions

• Are you using liquid handling instruments like epMotion, Hamilton, GenieLife, or Opentrons?

Sample Preparation and Protocol Management

Depending on the analysis required, samples may undergo certain preparation procedures before testing. This could involve sample grinding, dilution, extraction, filtration, or other techniques to make the samples suitable for analysis.

Key Questions

• What SOPs are you using to prepare and process your samples?
• Is there a clear version control of your protocols and an approval process?
• Are your prep assays standardized and auditable? 
• What instruments will you be using, what will be the output files of your samples, and how do you plan on analyzing that data? 

Documentation and Recordkeeping

A comprehensive sample strategy includes proper documentation and recordkeeping throughout the entire process. This includes recording sample information, collection dates, handling procedures, deviations or incidents, and other relevant data.

Key Questions

Do you have a proper Electronic Lab Notebook (ELN) to reference the sample-related experimental design and data analysis? 

Analysis Plan

The sample strategy also encompasses an analysis plan outlining the methods, techniques, and instruments to analyze the samples. It may include specific testing protocols, quality control measures, and data analysis approaches to ensure accurate and meaningful results.

Key Questions

• What software do you use to analyze your large CSV files?
• Do you use AI and ML for your sample data analysis? 
• Do you have a long-term data analysis plan?

Conclusion

Samples go through a predictable life cycle and have a lifespan – just like our cars, lab equipment, and bodies! You must oil your car, calibrate your instruments, and have a healthy diet and exercise regimen to maintain everything properly! 

Samples are no different. A successful lab must have a short- and long-term strategy for its samples, from collection to analysis and beyond. 

We are here to assist you with that. If you’d like to find the best answers to the questions above, schedule a free personal demo today!

Note: Consider looking into Sample360 – this will help you to define a Sample Strategy while incorporating your lab’s instruments into the mix!