Effectively Storing and Sharing Biological Data for Clinical Research
A biobanking LIMS can integrate, centralize, and safeguard specimen data
Introduction: Though biobanking—the practice of managing biological specimens and data for current or future medical research—has been around for many decades, the field has changed significantly since the completion of the Human Genome Project in the early 2000s. Advanced analytical techniques, high-tech tools, and mountains of data have made their way into modern biobanking, with the rapid changes both inspiring and perplexing clinical researchers looking for answers.
Comprehensive information management is vital to biobanks seeking to improve how they manage and share biobank data. The International Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories (ISBER) has published a best practices guide for biopreservation and biobanking repositories for years. Among its recommendations is an effective system that tracks specimens throughout their entire life cycle, one that includes support for “unique specimen identifiers, appropriate specimen labels, electronic data inventory systems for specimen tracking, consent form and/or permit tracking,” and other vital features.1 In line with these guidelines, biological resource management facilities have increasingly turned to laboratory information management systems (LIMS) as their central biobanking data management software.
