Amphora Research Systems announces partnership agreement with One Nucleus for supply of Electronic Lab Notebooks

Posted on December 13, 2010 by allisonc

Amphora Research Systems is pleased to announce a partnership with Cambridge based One Nucleus for the supply of ELN products and services to its members in the life-science and healthcare sectors. Under a new Preferred Supplier agreement the 500+ One Nucleus members will have access to Amphora’s award winning ELN solution – PatentSafe – at a specially discounted rate.

Rob Swan, Business Development Manager at Amphora said, “We already have a significant customer base in the Cambridge area, so this partnership builds upon that, providing a network of support for Biotech companies moving to electronic records”.

PatentSafe is a direct replacement for the bound laboratory notebook. Completely discipline neutral it allows scientists to gain the benefits of electronic working methods without having to experience the upheaval of major changes in working practices. Amphora’s PatentSafe solution delivers significant ROI with little disruption and at a price that can work for organizations of all sizes and types.

Get more information.

About Amphora Research Systems
Launched in 1996, Amphora Research Systems is one of the world’s leading suppliers of electronic laboratory notebooks. Its software products, including PatentSafe, are used around the world by large and small companies, including those in the pharmaceutical and chemical sectors. PatentSafe helps scientists to work better, collaborate easily with each other, and protect their inventions.

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Apple’s iOS 4.2 brings mobile printing to iPad ELN from Amphora

Posted on November 23, 2010 by allisonc

Amphora Research Systems is delighted to announce that their award winning PatentSafe ELN system fully supports the new iOS 4.2 software update from Apple. In conjunction with the new AirPrint features PatentSafe on the iPad now brings the ability to add and update entries into a researcher’s electronic lab notebook from any location.

“We were at the forefront of integrating the mobile possibilities of the iPad into the ELN architecture for scientists”, said Simon Coles CTO of Amphora. “The new printing capabilities offered by iOS 4.2 really complete the picture for the scientist who doesn’t want to, or can’t, update their notebook from their desktop.”

Previously it was possible to read experimental plans, read through notebook entries using the ELN on the iPad. Now scientists can bring up their work, enter observations, measurements and comments as they go, and then print them back into their PatentSafe notebook.

PatentSafe is a direct replacement for the bound laboratory notebook. Completely discipline neutral it allows scientists to gain the benefits of electronic working methods without having to experience the upheaval of major changes in working practices. Amphora’s PatentSafe solution delivers significant ROI with little disruption and at a price that can work for organisations of all sizes and types.

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Your ELN and the Facebook Generation

Posted on November 8, 2010 by simonc

A lot of ELN implementations are still what I’d term “Traditional” IT projects, purchased and delivered in a vary standardised way; you can do this with PatentSafe, but our experience over time is that such approaches are often a way to fail blamelessly rather than deliver true value. That won’t be good enough in the future.

There’s a lot of challenges appearing for the traditional complex, “Thick client”, consulting-driven ELN implementation – tighter budgets for one, as well as the rise of the iPad and tablet computing in the Laboratory in a post-PC world.

One little-discussed trend is the expectations of the Millennial Generation as discussed in this CIO article. The article draws out 4 core lessons:

  • Millennials expect to use the technology and devices of their choice
  • They either don’t care about or won’t obey corporate IT policies
  • They have an entirely different view of privacy than previous generations
  • They have little use for corporate email as a major collaboration tool

These attitudes can present quite a challenge when you are trying to implement a corporate ELN! Traditional command-and-control approaches aren’t going to go down that well with scientists, so we need to make sure the ELNs we deploy can fit with the new generation’s expectations.

PatentSafe is a naturally inclusive ELN and tends to deal well with a mix of work styles and technologies. We originally started out this way because we started out working for very diverse research groups, but it is really paying off now we’re seeing a new approach to IT in the workplace.

The Facebook generation really do expect more, and PatentSafe delivers.

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Another compelling reason for ELNs in Academic Research

Posted on November 1, 2010 by simonc

There are many reasons for Academic Research Labs to consider to moving to an Electronic Laboratory Notebook (ELN). One of them as shown by this incident where some Lab Notebooks went missing is to make sure that the Lab and hosting institution have the records they need no matter how dynamic the working environment.

Life in an academic lab is very different from Big Pharma or other industry; although it is tempting to think that perhaps ELNs are only relevant for “Big companies” the particular circumstances of Academic Research make ELNs perhaps even more compelling. It is true that some ELNs are quite cumbersome and expensive, but we’ve found PatentSafe to work very well in the more agile environment of Universities or other research groups. Not only is PatentSafe pretty flexible – supporting a wide variety of work styles – it can also work with pretty much any computing platform you might want to choose.

If you work in an academic lab and would like to understand how you might be able to benefit from an ELN without having to endure too much financial or implementation pain, do get in touch with us for a quick demo.

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The iPad, ELNs, and Enterprise IT

Posted on October 29, 2010 by simonc

When the iPad was released I think everyone expected “Enterprise IT” to swiftly ban it and wait for “proper” devices from more Enterprise-familiar vendors to appear. We think it is a very compelling device for lab use, and were expecting to end up talking with end users who were engaged in bottom-up efforts to get the iPad taken seriously.

We’ve still got the individual users talking to us; but we also have a significant number of IT people who are putting serious effort into understanding how the iPad fits into Research and Development. It appears this is a common theme, according to a recent Forrester report on iPads in the Workforce.

Interesting times… I really think the Electronic Laboratory Notebook world is going to change significantly in the next few years.

The iPad is fully supported by PatentSafe, just as we support many other devices. Going forward, we’re looking at ways to really bring its strengths to bear in the lab, whilst allowing the scientist to seamlessly work with their PC/Mac at their desktop.

(found via The Unofficial Apple Weblog)

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ELN & iPad user group

Posted on October 13, 2010 by simonc

PatentSafe has always been one of the more flexible Electronic Laboratory Notebooks on the market, carefully designed to be as “inclusive” as possible – both in terms of different Scientific Disciplines, but also ways of working, computing platforms etc.

We’ve been working with the iPad since it came out, happily PatentSafe works fine with no major changes and it seems there are more and more people using their iPad with PatentSafe. Sometimes this is just individuals working on their own, but increasingly companies have corporate initiatives to pilot the tablet devices (and the iPad in particular) in the Laboratory.

The iPad clearly has a lot of potential in the laboratory; however it is a new class of device, which brings both new possibilities but also new challenges. It isn’t just about the ELN, it is also about the other Apps you might use, how you manage the devices, integration options etc.

We’ve spoken to a number of our customers and it seems people would like to be able to share lessons learned, but there’s a concern about doing so publicly (if only because doing so will require layers of corporate approval!). But people are happy to talk to us, and then have that learning anonymised and passed on.

So if you are working with the iPad in the Laboratory in anyway, do please get in touch. If you are an Amphora customer then get in touch with the support desk in the normal way and mention your interest. If you aren’t a customer we’d still be more than happy for you to participate – just drop an email to info@amphora-research.com.

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Press Release: 4-Antibody Replace Paper Lab Notebooks with Amphora’s Flexible PatentSafe ELN

Posted on August 3, 2010 by simonc

4-Antibody Replace Paper Lab Notebooks with Amphora’s Flexible PatentSafe ELN

4-Antibody, a biopharmaceutical company located in Basel, Switzerland and Jena, Germany have implemented PatentSafe as a replacement for their traditional paper notebooks. By moving to Amphora Research Systems’ PatentSafe solution not only do they create secure records for patent purposes but they also have the benefit of a searchable, sharable repository of the company’s research.

New research tools and methods bring benefits to researchers around the world, but also create ever increasing volumes of data that gets ever more difficult and time consuming to accommodate within the traditional paper lab notebook. 4-Antibody were looking to replace their paper based system but had some definite ideas about how any new electronic system would need to work for them. Marc van Dijk, Chief Technology Officer for 4-Antibody explained “It was very important for us that a new electronic lab notebook should not impose restrictions on us in the way that we work”. 4-Antibody evaluated several possible ELNs (Electronic Lab Notebooks) and chose to implement Amphora’s PatentSafe system, because according to van Dijk “Amphora seemed to offer the most flexible system which allowed us to do what we wanted to do in terms of workflow”.

PatentSafe allows scientists to work with whatever software tools they find most effective and submit their work into a secure notebook system for signing and witnessing as appropriate. All the content is searchable, according to the security setting chosen by the organisation, making it easier for researchers to find related work, prepare reports and of course, reducing unnecessary rework.

4-Antibody are also using PatentSafe to manage official reports, giving date and time stamps which van Dijk and the project managers find useful. The system can also be simply integrated with other R&D applications, which was important to 4-Antibody because they plan in the future to implement these types of links. Van Dijk said that 4-Antibody aim to use PatentSafe as “one searchable database connecting all our R&D records, linking to our LIMS system” and he continued, “this will allow scientists and management to quickly see everything that is going on across R&D”.

Allison Coles from Amphora commented, “PatentSafe’s flexible approach allows scientists to switch to an electronic notebook without having to go through the disruption of a major shift in working practices.”

PatentSafe is a direct replacement for the bound laboratory notebook. Completely discipline neutral it allows scientists to gain the benefits of electronic working methods without having to experience the upheaval of major changes in working practices. Amphora’s PatentSafe solution delivers significant ROI with little disruption and at a price that can work for organisations of all sizes and types.

About Amphora Research Systems
Launched in 1996, Amphora Research Systems is one of the world’s leading suppliers of electronic laboratory notebooks. Its software products, including PatentSafe, are used around the world by large and small companies, including those in the pharmaceutical and chemical sectors. PatentSafe helps scientists to work better, collaborate easily with each other, and protect their inventions.
For further information, please contact: Allison Coles, Amphora Research Systems
Tel US: +1 800-221-3916
Tel UK: +44 (0) 845 2300160

http://www.amphora-research.com

About 4-Antibody AG
4-Antibody AG is a privately held Swiss Biotech company active in the area of therapeutic antibody drug development. 4-Antibody AG has developed a portfolio of powerful, proprietary antibody discovery and engineering platforms, including the Hu-PAC® and the Retrocyte Display® technologies. 4-Antibody AG owns patent families related to therapeutic antibody discovery platforms and products, including more than a dozen of granted patents worldwide. The company has 40 employees working at its headquarter in Basel, Switzerland, and its subsidiary in Jena, Germany.

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The Challenges Facing Laboratory Systems’ Integration – workshop with the RSC

Posted on April 21, 2010 by jow
A One-Day Workshop for Laboratory Staff, Supervisors & Managers

Thursday 20th May 2010
 at The Royal Society of Chemistry
Burlington House, Piccadilly, London

Information technology increasingly offers the possibility of a fully integrated, data, information and knowledge management environment to support the business and scientific objectives of our organizations.  But our legacy of application-centric approaches, the lack of good data standards, the constraints of business, legal and regulatory compliance, and the difficulties associated with managing change, all challenge our capability to move to a new paradigm.

The workshop format will be structured around facilitated sessions addressing the following topics:

Understanding integration requirements and their business drivers

Where do informatics systems fit, and what are their limitations?

The challenges facing laboratory systems’ integration

Emerging technologies and their integration potential

The workshop is designed to provide an excellent forum to enable participants to share experiences, concerns, opportunities and best practices capable of addressing concerns about laboratory integration. It also presents a unique opportunity for new or younger laboratory staff to understand the issues facing laboratory systems’ integration and approaches for addressing them.
The Topics
  • The Laboratory Landscape
    An overview of the challenges facing laboratory integration
  • Data Formats
    An overview of data interchange issues and a report of progress with AnIML
  • Integration Strategies
    Strategic approaches to laboratory integration: faced with a complexity of legacy issues, are there ways in which integration can be tackled?
  • Data Preservation/Records Management
    Switching to electronic records creates a new challenge in managing and preserving information over the long term. This session will identify strategies for meeting the requirements for IP, Legal/Patents and Regulatory Compliance of electronic records.
  • Emerging Technologies and Devices
    Will emerging technologies offer better potential to resolve laboratory integration issues?
The Facilitators
Jo Worthington Amphora Research Systems
Simon Coles Amphora Research Systems
Chris Hopley/Maria Chisholm LGC
John Trigg phaseFour Informatics
To register  and for more information go here.
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Press Release: Amphora’s PatentSafe ELN fully supported on the Apple iPad

Posted on April 7, 2010 by simonc

Amphora Research Systems is delighted to announce the first ELN (Electronic Laboratory Notebook) to be fully supported on the revolutionary Apple iPad.

“Science often happens in places where using a Desktop PC or Laptop is inconvenient, but with the iPad we can take the ELN to the science” said Simon Coles, CTO of Amphora. “PatentSafe has always been a really compelling replacement to the Paper Laboratory Notebook, but paired with the iPad’s portability and fluid UI it reaches new heights. We’re really excited that with the iPad the potential of the ELN is finally realized.”

“We’ve been working with the iPad Developer Programme since it was announced, and we’re keen that the iPad experience is available to all our users. So the iPad will be supported in both the current shipping branch of PatentSafe (4.9 onwards) and also the upcoming PatentSafe 5.” said Jo Worthington, Director of Customer Relations for Amphora.

PatentSafe is a direct replacement for the bound laboratory notebook. Completely discipline neutral it allows scientists to gain the benefits of electronic working methods without having to experience the upheaval of major changes in working practices. Amphora’s PatentSafe solution delivers significant ROI with little disruption and at a price that can work for organisations of all sizes and types.

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Amphora’s PatentSafe ELN and Apple’s iPad

Posted on April 4, 2010 by simonc

We didn’t want to announce anything until we got a real one to hold (and test with), but we’re happy to report that our PatentSafe Electronic Laboratory Notebook works just fine on Apple’s iPad.

We’ll do a formal press release in the next couple of days (I suspect we’re the first ELN to support the iPad), but the detail is that the it handles recent shipping versions of PatentSafe very well. We’ll be rolling in tweaks from PatentSafe 4.9 onwards. If you are a PatentSafe user do let us know your thoughts…

I’d love to claim this was a lot of work, but it wasn’t – PatentSafe is a web-based ELN and follows industry best practice – so it just worked, which is kind of the point… we hope to support all kinds of science and as many different styles of work as possible, and that means adhering to the standards which means we work with as many devices as possible.

Having said that, the iPad is definitely the most lustful of the devices we support!

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