BOSTON—Seeking a customizable, Web-based biorepository management solution for its internal and external researchers, the prestigious Channing Laboratory has licensed LabVantage Solutions Inc.'s Sapphire BioBanking Solution to replace its 10-year-old LIMS system.
As part of a multi-phase laboratory information management project, LabVantage will deploy Sapphire in the Respiratory Epidemiology Genotyping Laboratory, replacing significant portions of the LIMS and software packages developed by the Channing Laboratory more than a decade ago.
Dr. Scott Weiss, principal investigator for the Channing Laboratory, a multidisciplinary research division of Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, says the lab has many external sites that did not exist when it built its internal fat-client system, and the scientists need a solution that allows them to share information across platforms. Although the project is not enterprise-wide in scale, its success in the Respiratory Epidemiology Genotyping Lab may lead to other Channing groups deploying the solution.
According to Weiss, Sapphire was chosen for its configurable-off-the-shelf functionality and ability to integrate with the laboratory's existing systems.
"We needed a solution that would provide state-of-the-art biorepository management and that would also replace our legacy systems with standardized solutions," Weiss says. "LabVantage's Sapphire provides both, enabling us to deploy now and extend the solution in the future."
Sapphire will map the laboratory's existing processes to its built-in workflow management capabilities, automating the lab's study management, sample collection, accessioning and storage management practices and ensure compliance with its standard operating procedures, Weiss says.
"The biggest benefit to us will be the ability to integrate with other LIMS systems that we use for QC in genotyping," he says. "This will also reduce costs when it comes to integrating two informatics systems, making our laboratory more efficient."
Ron Kasner, vice president of Corporate Development at Bridgewater, N.J.-based LabVantage, says the Channing Laboratory's selection of Sapphire validates it as "a best-in-class sample and biorepository management solution."
"For organizations that do a lot of work internationally, the ability to securely access a system via a Web browser is critical," Kasner says. "We have the ability to tailor our solution to meet the needs of our customer. We're hoping to continue to expand our footprint within this organization." DDN
