product manager for Labtronics, adds: ‘An So are these generic information custom solutions or focus on a specific
ELN’s true value is laboratory integration: sharing services and tools edging into function, such as social networking, they
collecting information from laboratory ELN territory, and are they threatening are not the complete solution. Many
instruments and laboratory informatics the success of the fundamental laboratory customers prefer to purchase off-the-shelf
2010
systems, as well as the user, and then informatics platform? Mann disagrees: software, which can be configured to their
E
applying this information to make real ‘At Labtronics, we see the role of the specific workflow, and then incorporate
time decisions that control the execution ELN extending beyond gathering and these additional tools for increasing
of the procedure.’ sharing information. ELNs can also communication. An open platform and
Today, there are many different automate processes in the laboratory – in the ability to easily integrate with other
s guid
forms of ELNs available to document real time. This added function creates a vendors to provide a customer solution
experimental design, execution and data set of requirements that are very difficult is the key to a successful vendor in this
tic
capture, including products that can to fulfil with a generic service or tool.’ space.’
target specific domain functionality, such McCarthy, of Symyx, also comments: That said, SharePoint, wikis and
as bioanalytics, process chemistry and
formulations development. However,
‘elNs caN also autoMate processes iN
forma
despite understanding the importance of
N
such a significant and valuable informatics the laboratory – iN real tiMe’
platform, we ask an elementary question
– why do people share information? ‘If you look at the ELN as only a way blogs are very likely to be places where
Furthermore, what types of information to share content and documents then information gathered in the ELN is
tory i
a
are being shared, and what are the portals certainly SharePoint, Wikis and Blogs transformed or repurposed to assist
used for these different types of sharing? are threats. However, the ELN is more in decision-making or collaboration.
The drive for improved communication than that, it is also a productivity McCarthy at Symyx explains: ‘SharePoint
between scientists has seen a huge enhancing tool – helping scientists define portals, for example, might include a
abor
L
increase in the use of information sharing the experiment, study or hypothesis; quick view of the compounds synthesised
services, such as Microsoft SharePoint, design the experiment; plan the work; in a project (coming from the ELN)
which offers the assurance of sharing perform routine calculations; connect to and the HCS, Kinase, hERG, p450
information, as well as social networking instruments and data in the lab; document and tumour growth efficacy for those
and web sites tools, such as the current their observations and conclusions and compounds (also coming from the ELN).
Web 2.0 trend, which allows the creation share that with colleagues. Many of A Wiki on analytical methods that have
of knowledge through simplified user these are not readily accomplished in been validated may provide references
contributions via wikis and blogs. These SharePoint or wikis. The more important to those methods that were developed
web-based technologies are characterised aspect is that an ELN should index the and validated in the ELN. A blog by a
by online communities, open sharing, information generated in the lab so that well known scientist in the organisation
interactivity and collaboration, and it can be searched, repurposed and used could describe some findings across a large
hundreds of millions of internet users to make decisions. Typically, this is not body of work, including links to tables
are using thousands of social web the first thing people think about. They or conclusions from the ELN.’ Simon
sites to share user-created content, think about documenting the work – Beaulah, head of product marketing
resulting in the proliferation of scientific that is converting paper to electronic. at IDBS, also comments: ‘Information
opinion, data and knowledge at an Recognising that you will want to search, sharing tools, such as SharePoint, greatly
ever-increasing rate. This new found mine and repurpose data collected in the assist in the aggregation and sharing of
freedom enables communities to share ELN to make decisions across a portfolio project level information – functions that
embedded knowledge of a more practical quickly helps you realise that a wiki, are found in many, if not most, entry-level
or experiential nature to inform and blog or SharePoint portal will not enable ELNs. Moreover, such tools are being used
allow individuals and groups to arrive this. You end up in a situation where to support some workflows and this could
at their own conclusions. Specialists are you have lots of text from which you be viewed as competitive to some of the
often needed to extract and interpret the cannot readily derive information or new basic ELN offerings available.’
knowledge in the case of expert systems, insights.’ However, the principal differentiators
whereas one of the characteristics of these Furthermore, the openness in authoring for leading solutions in this area are
information sharing services and tools and sharing content is predisposed to domain specific functionality. This
is that anyone, anywhere, can choose produce unstructured knowledge that is is not present in generic information
to contribute input. This, in turn, has difficult to reason over or automatically sharing utilities. As many early adopters
the ability to speed up research and the validate, imposing limitations on its reuse. of ELN technology have experienced
sharing of results and to build extensive Debra Toburen at Agilent Technologies to their cost, domain expertise and
collaborations, and if used well, may also says: ‘While Microsoft SharePoint and the ability to understand scientifically
make it easier and less costly to develop some of the other tools available, such as relevant requirements and workflows
decision support. wikis and Web 2.0, provide tools to build are necessary for the rapid, smooth and
23
LIG10 pp22-25 ELNs.indd 23 18/11/09 17:37:54
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