Connect Biobanks Archives - INTERACTIVE SOFTWARE

Are you Biobanking or Bio-hoarding?

Gary Rooksby — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 15:03:39 +0000

I was watching an excellent presentation by Prof Daniel Catchpool, the current president of ISBER, at the Europe Biobank Week 2020, and he raised this specific question in a very insightful way. Anyone who manages a biobank has a multitude of constant considerations to juggle. These can relate to consent management, ethics, legislation, resource constraints and balancing budgets. It’s not often you can pause to think about the fundamentals of what you are doing. To realign your daily work to the principles on which your biobank was founded. Are enough of your samples being released to researchers or are they just sitting in your freezers? Is it time to step back and ask yourself if you’re biobanking or bio-hoarding? What is biobanking for? This sounds like such an obvious question but it’s so important to pause to consider it whenever you get the chance. You are involved at the leading edge of medical research with the aim of improving outcomes for patients. Helping to improve lives and save lives. That’s a pretty sobering thought. You are a key link in a resource chain that connects generous donors with researchers, with the aim of furthering medical science. And there are two […]

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Collaborative Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS)

Sharon Williams — Mon, 06 Apr 2020 08:00:58 +0000

In this unprecedented and somewhat unsettling time, we’re seeing collaboration on a global scale like never before. On a human level, strangers are coming together to help each other through the health crisis. In business, instead of competing separately to find a cure companies are working together to target COVID-19. To quote Max De Pree, ‘We can accomplish more together than we can alone.’ Even under ‘normal’ circumstances, when it comes to clinical and scientific research, many studies and clinical trials involve collaboration between funders, labs, clinics, charities, industry and so on. And without collaboration with industry and researchers Biobanks and biorepositories would soon become obsolete. Collaborative Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS), like Achiever Medical, provide a range of tools to help you securely work together and, importantly, share information. Managing multi-team projects, studies and clinical trials Achiever Medical’s unique project and study functionality enables you to segment and manage your samples as collections. Within each project you can link any associated Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and documentation. You can also allocate a project team. As you add each project team member you assign them a role. This role determines what data each person can see, enter and update. You’re […]

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Achiever Medical – the only software for Biobanks that links to the UKCRC Tissue Directory to publish your sample holdings

Sharon Williams — Tue, 26 Nov 2019 13:21:04 +0000

The competition is tough out there for Biobanks. You’re competing with commercial as well as academic Biobanks. And you need your Biobank to stand out and be noticed. You want to be the first point of call for researchers who are sourcing samples and for funders who are ready to invest. Reputation is everything. Where better to start than publishing your tissue sample holdings data on a renowned directory like the UKCRC Tissue Directory? This might sound easier said than done. However, Achiever Medical makes it easier – and quicker – for you to do just that. Plus, it’s the only software for Biobanks with live links that automatically send your sample holdings data to the UKCRC Tissue Directory. Reasons why you don’t currently publish your tissue sample holdings to the UKCRC Tissue Directory You know that publishing your sample holdings data to the UKCRC Tissue Directory will help your Biobank increase its exposure and improve its reputation. But you may see getting your data to it as challenging and time-consuming. Achiever Medical software for Biobanks has been designed to help overcome these challenges so you can get the most from your tissue samples and achieve your goal to further […]

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Proud to be recognised as a life sciences company of excellence at the UK Biobanking showcase

Sharon Williams — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 11:47:20 +0000

Thanks for stopping by to see us at the UK Biobanking showcase. We really enjoyed the event and had a great time learning and sharing ideas. We kicked off the 5th Annual UK Biobanking showcase with an informative workshop on data quality and access. Our focus for the workshop was the importance of the UKCRC Tissue Directory in promoting your Biobank. And, above all, how Achiever can make it easier for you to publish details of your tissue samples to the directory. Achiever Medical is the only laboratory sample management system that links to the UKCRC Tissue Directory. It sends your selected sample holdings data automatically, and securely, to the directory. And, what’s more, you can choose to update your information as often as you’d like. As a result, you’re making sure researchers are viewing tissue samples from your current collection. We’re also very proud to be cited as a Midlands life sciences company of excellence. Hearing about the things that matter to you … It was so good to share ideas and listen to some of the great things that you’re achieving. It was also interesting to hear some of the challenges you’re facing and identifying where technology can […]

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5 ways Biobank Information Management Software (BIMS) can help raise your Biobank’s profile

Gary Rooksby — Wed, 30 Oct 2019 17:12:38 +0000

For your Biobank to be effective you need researchers to be regularly requesting your tissue samples. This means you need to make them aware of your Biobank and what you have to offer. You’re competing with other Biobanks – both academic and commercial. In order to stand out from the crowd you need to be clear on why you’re different as well as making sure your Biobank has a good reputation. So how can you do this when your resources and finances are already stretched. This is where having effective Biobank Information Management software (BIMS) can really help. 1. Register with a directory – and keep your sample inventory up to date Your first step when raising your profile should be to register your Biobank with a national registry such as the UKCRC. It’s easy to register and many funders now insist that you do. So, if you want funding, it’s an easy choice. In addition, it’s worth noting that, even if you’re already registered with the UKCRC you should look at the level of detail it now accepts. As now you can automatically upload tissue data (numbers, types, formats, donor types, etc). Plus, the UKCRC directory has search capabilities […]

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Interactive Software working with UKCRC Tissue Directory and Coordination Centre to Connect Biobanks

Sharon Williams — Thu, 11 Apr 2019 11:42:25 +0000

Interactive Software is working closely with the UKCRC Tissue Directory and Coordination Centre to connect Biobanks within the UK. The objective of this innovative project is to improve researchers’ access to quality research sample data from diverse data sources. The UKCRC Tissue Directory aims to be the first port of call for researchers sourcing biological samples for their studies. The real value of Biobanks is not simply measured by the number of biological samples held in their inventory. It is how those samples can be optimised for use in investigative scientific research. Connecting Biobanks in the UK will offer researchers greater choice In addition, the expectations of researchers have changed with advances in technology and an increasingly competitive marketplace. Researchers expect to be able to locate and find samples with very specific characteristics and biomarkers – quickly and easily. A centralised tissue directory providing standardised data on research samples will help reduce administrative burdens on researchers, reduce the time they spend on sourcing samples and offer greater choice. Sharing biological sample data has ethical and legal challenges, in addition to the technical considerations that are required to manage diverse data structures. How Achiever Medical is helping to Connect Biobanks Interactive […]

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