Say goodbye to hand-written
lab records
Electronic Laboratory Notebooks: Challenges and Solutions
London, 9 February 2005
 The
idea of an Electronic Laboratory Notebook (ELNB) hardly seems
new, but this long-delayed technology has only recently become
mainstream. The technology required to store experimental
write-ups and computer-generated output, from the host of
machines that are in day-to-day use in the laboratory, already
exists.
Electronic records are easy to search and a well-designed
system should make it easier to draw together information
for writing reports, as well as preventing organisations from
reinventing the wheel, simply because individuals are not
aware that key experiments have already been done. So what
has been the major stumbling block to scientists moving away
from hand-written records? Equally, why have so few companies
implemented any of the commercial software packages that have
been specifically designed for this purpose?
We have put together a one-day meeting that will be of interest
to laboratory scientists, as well as all those involved in
managing scientific information. There will be contributions
from key figures involved in specifying and producing ELNB
software. We will also review the experiences of three research
companies at different stages of implementing ELNBs within
their organisations, and cover the legal considerations of
protecting intellectual property, electronic witnessing and
progress towards electronic data capture. The day will conclude
with a chaired discussion forum, to which all delegates are
invited to contribute, and a preview of the next generation
of ELNBs.
The introduction of ELNBs will have profound implications
for all those involved in the chemical, pharmaceutical or
biotech industries, academic or governmental research, or
the protection of intellectual property. They not only offer
a different way of recording experimental results, but also
enable instant access to primary data by co-workers at remote
sites. This represents a radical change to the process of
collaborative research and those organisations that adapt
efficiently and quickly will reap the benefits.
By Caroline Low, David Witty & David Lathbury,
Fine Chemicals Panel
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