Informatics
Selecting a LIMS for next-generation sequencing research
Genomics has revolutionised the life sciences industry by combining human ingenuity with right-place/right-time serendipity. Advances in computer processing and storage have provided the bandwidth and throughput to enable the visionary science imagined by those pioneering the Human Genome Project. The revolution continues today. No other industry has seen processing speeds rise and costs drop as dramatically as genomics (Figure 1). And with next-generation sequencing (NGS) providing the ability to sequence entire genomes in less than a day for pennies per base pair, organisations are now wondering how they will handle the data these techniques generate
O
rganisations understand the true promise of genomics lies not in the production of data, but in how well scientists exploit the data produced. The challenge is more daunting in light of recent commentaries which note that while the cost of sequencing has decreased, analysis costs remain high – more than half again as much as sequencing alone. Simply gathering and storing the reams of data generated is not enough – data needs to be considered in tandem with contextual sample and project information in order to inform down- stream analysis and critical research decision points. Lab information management systems (LIMS) are a mature class of life science software intro- duced in the 1980s to manage such tasks as sample management, experimental monitoring and data collection, analysis and reporting. Commercial LIMS are now available specifically for genomics. The best of these systems offer the following advantages to modern sequencing facilities:
l End-to-end sample traceability. Drug Discovery World Summer 2011
l Scalability so that labs can get up, running and producing results quickly. l Adaptability to help labs accommodate chang- ing technologies and methodologies. l Data analysis, workflow management and operational reporting tools to ensure labs run effi- ciently and collaboratively.
Achieving these benefits requires labs to assess available LIMS against specific experimental needs and research workflows. This article reviews three criteria that next-generation labs should evaluate when selecting a LIMS. The choice will depend on:
l How well the system supports best practices in instrument configuration out of the box. l How easy the system is to configure and cus- tomise. l Whether the system provides user specific interfaces to streamline the work performed by the various types of users who will need to interact with the LIMS.
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By Bruce Pharr and Dr Michael Kuzyk
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