Vida Data Systems

Information Systems for Life Science Companies

Systems and Technologies

There are a lot of different systems and technologies out there. How do we choose which ones to use? This answer
depends of course on your needs, but for many R&D and scientific applications agile development is key. Agile
development enables applications to be developed quickly without sacrificing critical functionality. In addition, many times
the technologies used in agile development can produce user interfaces and applications that are superior to traditional
methods, thereby enhancing the usability and user experience with the system.

For this reason, Vida Data Systems has some preferred technologies:

Project Examples

Protein Assay Facility A system was needed to manage proteomics experiments, reagents, and results. This is a custom-built system using Filemaker as the development platform.

Micorarray LIMS
A Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) to manage microarray experiments, data files, and statistical
analysis was custom built using an Oracle database back-end and a web-based user interface (or front-end). The
open source statistical package bioconductor (based on the "R" language) was also integrated into this solution.

Sample Management System A custom-built system that enables sample management. Handles creation or aliquots, storage and parent-child relationship tracking. Originally built for managing clinical biomarker samples but could be easily modified to manage any type of samples. This system was built in Filemaker.

Clone Sequence Management System
A cDNA clone management system that handled plates used to create microarrays as well as storage and inventory
of the clones was built with a web interface and an Oracle database back-end.

PreClinical Information Management
The request from the scientists was to develop a system to manage and integrate al types of data associated with any
pre-clinical experiment. Animals, treatments, samples, experiments, and results are all part of this integrated system.
This system was built in Filemaker.

Preferred Providers

Although Vida Data Systems is agnostic with respect to vendors -- we prefer to find and utilize the system/tool that best fits
our clients' needs-- occasionally, there are some systems that deserve mention due to the excellence of the product and
cost-advantages that they provide. Currently Vida Data Systems recommends 2 systems:

Labvironment: An excellent and affordable Laboratory Management System for managing Projects, Experiment,
Vectors, Cell lines, Animals and much more. It is fully customizable to each lab's needs.

Ensur from Mystic Management Systems: The Ensur product is a full service document management system with
document templates, version control, routing and approvals. This system is especially well suited to small mid-
sized biopharmas due to the relatively low cost of entry.