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laboratory informatics


Mosaic includes safeguards to ensure that exclusivity isn’t breached


instrumentation and informatics options and combinations employed by different laboratories around the world. Without consistent, analytically enabled environments, data is oſten only made available in a ‘dead’ format like a PDF, spreadsheet, or Word document. As a result, contextual information can be lost, as is the ability to search the data in the future.’ Toronto-based ACD/Labs’ soſtware platform


us at BSSN is that at Pittcon later this year we’ll be launching the capability for clients to access and take off data wherever they are, on a MAC, PC, web browser, tablet or smartphone.’ For clients orchestrating a network of preferred


partners for a range of outsourced functions, this flexibility to access data at any time, and any place, will give the CRO a competitive advantage, Schaefer believes. ‘We want to position ourselves in the middle of these networks, and provide the tools that will allow pharma and its CROs to be confident in the data that they transfer, and to manage and oversee their relationships.’


Managing samples and supply Sample ordering, management, allocation and client confidentiality are key issues for CROs that work on multiple projects for a range of clients. Titian Soſtware recently announced the installation of its Mosaic sample management soſtware at four major CRO sites in China, and the appointment of a distributor for the product in the country. UK-based Titian’s modular and scalable Mosaic sample management platform supports sample supply workflows, and orchestrates the tracking, ordering and preparation of small molecule compounds, biological samples and reagents, explains David Booth, regional sales manager for Europe. Te platform also integrates with a range of automated stores and liquid handling systems to further streamline and automate workflow, and reduce human error. Sample management is obviously key for


compound providers, but it’s also important for CROs that offer preclinical assay services or carry out clinical trials for the pharma industry, Booth says. ‘CROs will be handling samples from or for multiple customers, and they need to make sure that the samples, and the associated data, are strictly segregated. Te same safeguards need to be in place whether the material is synthetic or biological in nature, and whether for preclinical or CFR21 part 11-compliant studies.’


8 SCIENTIFIC COMPUTING WORLD


Safeguarding exclusivity Compound providers in particular are restricted contractually with respect to whom they can issue a compound out to, and for what target. Mosaic includes safeguards to ensure that exclusivity isn’t breached. ‘And unlike other soſtware that may offer inventory management but not necessarily ordering mechanisms, shipping, or integration with the liquid handling instrumentation, Mosaic provides the complete package that will handle every step, and can be interfaced with a range of informatics and instrumentation providers,’ Booth states. Te platform allows customers to place a


request for samples in the required form, even from a global inventory that could span multiple sites. Booth adds: ‘Mosaic then


determines whether the samples are available for immediate dispatch and, if not, initiates workflows to create them. Inventory tracking information is maintained in a database that can be accessed at any time. Staff are guided through the individual operations, and data is automatically passed to robotic workstations. Tis ensures that all the correct methods and procedures are executed on the workstations, through every step of the sample preparation process.’


Further


for analytical and chemical knowledge management has been developed to address this issue. ‘To provide maximum value to their customers the CRO must be able to do more than just distribute reports in dead data formats,’ Sasaki continues. ‘Of course that is easier said than done when the data is acquired on different types of instrumentation and processed in a variety of different soſtware packages that may not be employed at the client organisation. What we offer is a vendor-neutral platform for handling analytical data.’


information


BSSN Software www.bssn-soſtware.com


UNIConnect www.uniconnect.com


Labvantage www.labvantage.com


Titian Software www.titian.co.uk


IDBS www.idbs.com


ACD/Labs www.acdlabs.com


The Edge Software www.edge-ka.com


LabWare www.labware.com


Keeping data live One major hurdle that any CRO must overcome is the inability to collate compounds and project work in a consistently ‘live’ and readable electronic package, says Ryan Sasaki, director of global strategy at ACD/Labs. ‘Tis challenge is due to the vast array of different analytical


Keeping data contextual ACD/Labs’ soſtware can sit between a CRO and its clients and existing informatics platforms, such as ELN (electronic laboratory notebook) and LIMS, keeping the data in a live environment rather than archiving it into silos. ‘Archiving data is necessary, and exists primarily for auditing and regulatory purposes, but the problem is that archived data then essentially becomes locked down in a silo and can only be viewed in whatever format it was stored,’ Sasaki notes. ‘Again, it’s effectively dead data; the ability to search and mine what could be valuable information resources is lost. Even if the data is accessible it is usually in its raw, instrument data form which lacks the context around which conclusions were made.’ Tis is a real drawback for


CRO and client alike, particularly if the client needs to revisit and reanalyse the analytical data. It also significantly reduces the return on investment for clients, Sasaki adds. ‘Te client wants to ensure that the money they are saving through outsourcing won’t adversely impact on the delivery of a product of equivalent value. Our platform essentially gets around this problem by keeping


the data live, and allowing the CRO or client to look at all that data with its chemical context, and keep the information on any compound searchable by assignments or annotations, structure, substructure or spectral parameters. Tis capability transforms data into knowledge.’


@scwmagazine l www.scientific-computing.com


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