From bedside to bench

VICTORIA, British Columbia—The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (FHCRC), one of the world's leading cancer research institutes, has selected translational research informatics software company GenoLogics to develop an integrated biorepository and biomedical informatics software solution for the center's Translational and Outcomes Research group.

Under a two-year contract with FHCRC, GenoLogics will develop a suite of informatics products to enable the center to facilitate more seamless interactions between its scientists, investigators and collaborators. The GenoLogics software is being provided to FHCRC by the Canary Foundation, a nonprofit, tax-exempt public charity committed to the development of early-detection tests for solid-tumor cancers.

Under the agreement, GenoLogics will use its Biomedical Informatics software solution to track observational studies, collect patient data at remote sites, provide biospecimen and clinical annotations management and facilitate researchers' clinical information queries.

"GenoLogics is a good fit with our research because they are taking the time to understand our needs for software support and are willing to work with us to develop software that is flexible for ongoing needs as well as current needs," says Carole Shaw, a database manager for the FHCRC's Translational and Outcomes Research group. 

Although GenoLogics will be providing translational research solutions for FHCRC, CEO Michael Ball points out that the collaboration will benefit his company as well. Working with FHCRC is expected to result in additional software products that GenoLogics will add to its suite, he says.

"This is not meant to be a custom collaboration between customers. It's meant to develop a commercial product," Ball says. "When this product is commercially released, it will be available to any research group, pharma or biotech company." DDN