Adopting new methods and technologies is a natural part of life in the lab. Yet, transitioning to a new protocol or instrument always seems easier in theory than it actually is in reality. It takes significant effort to change what may have become habitual.

So, why go through the effort of changing your workflows at all? 

Often, there are significant long-term benefits. In the case of transitioning from one ELN platform to another, there can be short- and long-term advantages, such as expanded functionality, improved user experience, scalability, cost efficiency, regulatory compliance, and more.

If you're looking to move from another ELN platform to eLabNext’s ELN platform, eLabJournal, there are a few ways to make the transition as smooth as possible.

Research the New ELN System 

Before making the switch, you must research and evaluate potential ELN systems that fit your needs. Identify the features and functionalities that are most important to you and compare different options to find the best fit.

Import Data into the New ELN

After you've exported your data from the current ELN system, you can import it into the new ELN system. Check the import requirements of the new system and ensure your data is in the correct format before importing it.

Verify the Imported Data

Once the data has been imported, it's essential to verify that all data has been correctly transferred. Check for missing or corrupted data, and ensure all of your previous formatting is preserved.

Train Users on the New ELN

It's essential to provide training and support to users using the new ELN system. This will help ensure everyone is familiar with and can use the new system effectively. To make sure this process goes smoothly, it always helps to have designated leaders with the right qualities to effectively drive change.

Test and Evaluate the New ELN

Finally, it's important to thoroughly test and evaluate the new ELN system to ensure that it meets your needs and expectations. Consider conducting a trial period to identify potential issues or improvement areas.

Additional Considerations for a Smooth ELN Transition

Migrating from another ELN platform to eLabJournal will take time and effort, but it's worth it. eLabJournal is a powerful tool that can help you improve your research productivity and efficiency.

Here are some additional tips for a smooth transition:

Start Planning Early

The sooner you start planning for the migration, the smoother the process. This means taking the time to research the different ELN platforms available and choosing one that's right for your needs.

Get Everyone on Board

Getting everyone on board with the migration is important, from the researchers to the IT department. This will help to ensure that everyone is aware of the process and that there are no surprises.

Communicate with Your Users

It's important to communicate with your users throughout the migration process. This will help to keep them informed of the progress and answer any questions they may have.

Be Prepared for Setbacks

There will be setbacks along the way, but preparing for them ensures that they don’t derail the transition process. This means having a plan in place for how you will deal with any issues that arise.

Conclusion

Transitioning to a new ELN system is an investment in your lab's future. The short-term effort involved pales compared to the long-term advantages, such as expanded functionality, improved user experience, scalability, cost efficiency, and regulatory compliance. By following the steps and tips outlined above, you can confidently navigate the process, paving the way for enhanced research productivity and efficiency with eLabJournal.

If you’re interested in switching over to eLabNext, contact us today.

Last updated on 19 June, 2024.

BOSTON, MA – eLabNext (an Eppendorf Group company), the provider of a Digital Lab Platform with lab inventory management system (LIMS), electronic lab notebook (ELN), and artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning(ML) solutions for life science laboratories, and Promega Corporation (Promega), a global leader in innovative technologies, tools, and technologies for the life science industry, announced a collaboration today to make Promega’s standard operating procedures (SOPs) readily accessible within the eLabNext Digital Lab Platform.

This partnership will enable select protocols associated with Promega’s Wizard™ Extraction Chemistries, GoTaq® Master Mixes, and Bioluminescence Glo® Assays products to be hosted on eLabNext’s web-based protocol and SOP management platform, eLabProtocols, allowing integration and incorporation into users’ eLabJournal, eLabNext’s easy-to-use, fully customizable ELN platform.

“As the industry matures, and the knowledge and need for lab digitization expands, especially with the inevitable acceptance of the role of AI in biotechnology, we have been seeing more and more of our customers requesting more easily accessible protocols for their assays,” says Zareh Zurabyan, Head of eLabNext, Americas. “We have noticed an uptick in requests for Promega Cell Biology, Protein Analysis, and other protocols, and given the mutual connections between Promega and us, it was a natural progression to work together so we can provide more comprehensive digital solutions for our mutual customers. Ultimately, our goal is to make scientists’ lives easier and integrating Promega’s SOPs directly into our platform will enable them to stay on top of the most recent protocol updates in real-time.”

“Promega is committed to providing digital tools to customers in academic, applied, pharma, biotech, and clinical research that increase accessibility to our leading tools and technologies,” says Tom Livelli, Vice President of Life Science Products and Services at Promega. “eLabProtocols provides a platform to easily adapt our reagent protocols to a laboratory’s specific research and quickly share them with colleagues to foster better collaboration.

The integration of Promega’s protocols serves as another example of the open and customizable functionality of eLabNext’s platform through eLabMarketplace.

About Promega Corporation

Promega Corporation is a leading provider of innovative solutions and technical support to the life sciences industry. With over 40 years of experience, the company offers a diverse portfolio of more than 4,000 products supporting various life science disciplines, including cell biology, DNA, RNA, protein analysis, drug development, human identification, and molecular diagnostics. Promega's tools and technologies have continually evolved and expanded their applications in academic and government research labs, forensics, pharmaceutical companies, and clinical diagnostics facilities, as well as in agricultural and environmental testing. Headquartered in Madison, WI, USA, Promega Corporation operates globally, with branches in 16 countries and an extensive network of over 50 global distributors.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

Companies in the life sciences often discuss Business Strategy and R&D Strategy, focusing primarily on creating value and gaining an edge over their competition. 

But we rarely discuss a newer type of strategy: Digital Lab Strategy, which has become a foundational pillar for a successful organisation. The number of software and instruments that deal with raw data analysis, collaboration, and accessibility is now massive and an immediate need of day-to-day laboratory operations. 

So, if developing a Digital Lab Strategy is at the bottom of your to-do list, you may be setting yourself up for failure.

Digital Lab Strategy has revolutionised the industry by allowing labs and research facilities (and most likely your competitors) to drive innovation and digitalisation. In this blog, we will discuss why labs need a comprehensive Digital Lab Strategy and how you can implement it to accelerate performance and achieve better results. 

Digital Lab Strategy: A Multi-Faceted Solution for the Life Science Industry

Whether navigating the road to FDA approval, applying for grants, and/or publishing research papers, there is generally a rough strategy that will help you achieve your goal. This may include hiring the right people, choosing the suitable therapeutic modality or target, developing the proper internal team hierarchy, identifying partners from other organisations, outsourcing animal studies to skilled collaborators, and attracting investors or grants to give you the money to achieve all of the above. 

Previously, digital solutions were just some of the many tools used to achieve these goals.

Nowadays, however, they define the strategies, set the pace and timelines, and serve as a unique selling point for collaborators and investors.  

For example, an un-digitised biotech start-up may appear not to be keeping up with times or keen on moving forward by a potential investor, regardless of how revolutionary their IP might be.  

But, Digitalisation is Difficult…

Countless barriers stand in the way of organisations developing and implementing a Digital Lab Strategy.

For Big Pharma companies, the problem is being “too digital.” One of the biggest problems is having decentralised data and using many digital tools. This leads to a loss of data and longer data analysis periods.

In Academia, the problem is a bit different. Labs and PIs are rushing to get grants and churning out publications in an environment with a rapid churn of personnel. This makes it difficult to formulate a sustainable digital foundation and leads to repeating old experiments, losing samples, and a slower research pace.

In healthcare, the lack of digital lab strategy is primarily due to using ancient, in-house systems. For example, an older Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) can be inconsistent and not very user-friendly, and it can experience issues with data updates. Taken together, this makes scientists apprehensive about using it. Decentralising data in different digital tools and creating a sustainable ecosystem becomes a headache for scientists working in the industry.

Your Digital Lab Strategy Checklist

To prevent these issues and inconsistencies, having a Digital Lab Strategy is integral for all labs and research facilities. Digitaliasation is multi-faceted, and there are a lot of different parts of lab operations where it can be integrated. To help you prepare a comprehensive digital lab strategy, we have provided a checklist for further guidance:

General Sample Strategy

• Make a list of all the sample types that you are working with
•  Develop a suitable naming convention, and determine if you will be able to scale using your current system
•  Make a plan regarding storing, tracking, accessing, and analysing samples
•  Conduct temperature monitoring; check if you have reliable sensors for your incubators and freezers
•  Label and secure your prepared samples. Check if your labelling needs can be easily digitalised into your current system

General Inventory Strategy

• Check the equipment you are currently using, and see if you are keeping track of their calibration/validation schedules
•  Determine how you are tracking the equipment usage
•  Analyse the supply and ordering management you are currently using. Make a note if there are any persistent issues or concerns due to backorder
•  Barcode your inventory
•  Ensure that you have an automated workflow

SOP Tracking and Development Strategy

• Control all your protocols and procedures 
•  Develop clear ownership of protocols, and create proper collaboration tactics
•  Check if there is an approval process involved in the audit trail
•  Determine if your protocol development integrates and positively influences your sample and experimental design management

Data Reporting and Experimental Design Strategy

• Check if a digital project management strategy is in place, such as program coding, naming conventions, collaboration hierarchies, etc.
•  See what tools you use to manage your general projects/tasks, and specify your experiments and lab reports 
•  Clearly define lab report lengths and the format in which they will be completed (e.g., how are results written for easy access and translation)
•  Ensure that everything is standardised and that everyone is developing their own result structure
•  Implement a proper handoff system in place between colleagues and departments
•  Maintain proper correspondence about data transfer and management with the automation team

Automation Strategy

• Utilise instruments and software that can be integrated with other systems
•  Optimise your walkaway time

Customization and Integration Strategy

• Check if the systems you are using are capable of integration using an open API
•  Check if the system has a Developer Hub
•  See if you have an easily accessible Software Developer Kit (SDK) to make your own customisations
•  Assess if you can integrate the system with your robots and other instruments
•  Check if you have all the desired software and if integrating with them is a possibility

General IT and Digital Security Compliance

• Decide if you want to outsource the IT services or hire an in-house team
•  Ensure you have the expertise and training to manage the servers internally
•  Check your internal security standards

Compliance with Different Regulatory Environments

• GxP
•  HIPPA
•  GDPR
•  21CFR Part11
•  CLIA 

Data Science Strategy

• See if you will be using AI and ML solutions, and if so, what are your guidelines 
•  Check which analytical techniques (e.g., multi-omics, image, flow cytometry, etc.) you will base your research strategy on 
•  Decide if you have plans to scale the business 
•  See if you have plans to participate in continuous data analysis or do you plan to shift direction 

Overall Digital Strategy

• Determine your 3-year plan. For example, how many robots you’d like to integrate, what other integrations you’d like to have, and with which systems
•  Pay attention to your long-term strategy. Decide how you will mine and analyse all the data that you have gathered over 5 to 10 years
•  Think about the hiring trajectory and whether you have resources to train your staff, promote a culture of innovation, and continuously grow in the current space 

Conclusion

In conclusion, Digital Lab Strategy is now “in the DNA” of all labs and trickles down to the research and business strategy rather than the other way around. The sooner an organisation embraces digitalisation, the quicker it can pivot in the right direction. It is anticipated that labs that uphold strict and standardised digital protocols and adopt AI and ML will be leaps ahead of their competition. This pattern can already be observed with the current customers. 

If you are ready to strategise about your digital lab journey, get in touch with us today!

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!

Whether in a small academic lab or part of a large team in a big pharma lab, managing and storing hazardous or potentially infectious substances are crucial for personal safety and environmental protection.

Whilst improper chemical storage can lead to serious incidents like fires, chemical burns, or even glass vessel ruptures, recent events, such as the fear surrounding the possible lab origin of SARS-CoV-19, provides a stark reminder of the importance of the safe and effective storage of viruses to prevent any potential risks to public health and safety.

In this blog, we'll explore best practices for safely and effectively handling chemicals and viruses in the laboratory. Equipping yourself with this knowledge can create a safer, more organised, and more secure working environment. By no means are the laboratory practices listed here a comprehensive list, so please consult with your EH&S supervisor to ensure that your lab fully complies with your organisation's safety regulations within the country you operate in. If you operate in multiple countries, consider adopting the highest standards from each to create a global standard that can be used in every country.

Best Practices for Chemical Management

Chemicals are widely used in various life science and pharmaceutical applications for research, product development, and production. However, improper storage of chemicals can lead to serious accidents such as explosions, fires, and toxic gas releases. Therefore, it is essential to store chemicals safely and efficiently to prevent accidents and ensure the safety of your lab personnel.

Here are some best practices and tips for safely and efficiently storing chemicals.

Choose the Right Storage Location

The location of the chemical storage area is critical to ensure the safety of the workers and the environment. The storage area should be located away from ignition sources, such as flames, sparks, and electrical equipment. It should also be located away from direct sunlight, moisture, and extreme temperatures.

The storage area should also have adequate ventilation to prevent the accumulation of toxic fumes or gases. In addition, the area should be well-lit and have clear labels indicating the type of chemicals stored and their hazards.

Use Appropriate Containers

Chemicals should be stored in appropriate containers compatible with the chemical being stored. For example, acids should be stored in acid-resistant containers, while flammable liquids should be stored in grounded, explosion-proof containers. Chemicals should never be stored in food or drink containers or unmarked containers.

It is also essential to label all containers with the name of the chemical, its hazard class, and any other relevant information, such as the date of purchase, date of opening, and expiration date.

Segregate Chemicals

Chemicals should be segregated based on their compatibility to prevent accidental reactions. For example, acids should be stored separately from bases, and oxidising agents should be held separately from flammable substances.

Store Chemicals According to Hazard Class

Chemicals should be stored according to their hazard class. The four main hazard classes are flammable, corrosive, toxic, and oxidising. Flammable liquids should be stored in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from ignition sources. Corrosive chemicals should be stored in a dedicated storage area with a spill containment system.

Toxic chemicals should be stored in a secure area with limited access, and oxidising agents should be held separately from flammable materials.

Train Employees on Safe Chemical Handling

All employees who handle chemicals should be trained in safe chemical handling practices. This includes proper handling and storage procedures, personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements, and emergency response procedures. In addition, employees should be trained to read and interpret chemical labels and safety data sheets (SDS).

Implement a Chemical Inventory System

A chemical inventory system should be implemented to keep track of all chemicals in storage. The inventory system should include the name of the chemical, quantity, location, hazard class, and expiration date. The system should also have a method for safely disposing of expired or unwanted chemicals. eLabInventory is an example of an inventory management system that can be employed as a chemical inventory system (or similar). We should be aware that we currently cannot provide hazardous labelling in the system.

Best Practices for Virus Management

If you're in a laboratory that deals with viruses, then being aware of the proper safety and containment procedures is incredibly important. This reduces the risk of lab personnel being accidentally infected or spreading the infection outside the lab. Here are some commonly used methods to effectively manage the risks of working with viral pathogens.

Storage

Viruses can be stored frozen at extremely low temperatures, typically -80°C or colder, using cryoprotective agents to prevent damage from ice formation. This method is commonly used for long-term storage and can preserve virus viability for decades. Another storage method, lyophilization (also known as freeze-drying), involves removing water from the virus, leaving behind a stable, dry product. The virus is frozen, and a vacuum is applied to remove the water, preserving the virus for an extended period. This method is often used for short-term storage and transportation.

Containment Measures and Equipment

Prioritise containment measures to minimise exposure and infection risks. Utilise primary barriers, such as biosafety cabinets (BSCs) and enclosed containers. This will help prevent the release of infectious aerosols during manipulative procedures.

Design laboratory facilities with secondary barriers to protect personnel and the environment. Regularly maintain and inspect laboratory equipment to prevent malfunctioning that could lead to accidental virus release. Emphasise the importance of good microbiological techniques and specialised safety practices in handling emerging viruses safely.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Enforce the proper use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) when working with viruses. Ensure laboratory personnel wear appropriate gloves, gowns, face shields, and respirators, depending on the specific tasks and potential exposure risks.

Provide training on how to don and doff PPE correctly to minimise the risk of contamination. It is essential to fit-test all respirators to ensure a proper fit and consider vaccination as an additional precaution to enhance personal protection.

Biosecurity Measures

Implement robust biosecurity plans to prevent emerging viruses' unauthorised release and misuse. Conduct risk assessments and identify potential threats, vulnerabilities, and countermeasures specific to the laboratory facility.

It may also be necessary to involve specialised working groups comprising scientists, administrators, security staff, and law enforcement when necessary. Focus on physical security, personnel security, material control, transport security, and information security to safeguard against bioterrorism threats.

Conclusion

The safe and efficient management of chemicals and viruses in laboratory settings is paramount to ensure the well-being of laboratory personnel and protect the environment. Improper chemical storage can lead to hazardous incidents, while mishandling viruses can pose severe risks to public health. Part of adequate chemical inventory and virus sample management is tracking what’s in stock, where samples are, and all associated metadata.

The eLabNext digital lab platform can provide a simple, secure, and safe solution for your chemical and virus management needs.

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