Thermo Fisher Scientific Announces Biobanking and Biospecimen Management Software Solution

Thermo Fisher Scientific, the world leader in serving science, today announced that its Nautilus LIMS (laboratory information management system) now delivers purpose-built functionality to meet the specific and unique needs of the biobanking industry. Thermo Scientific Nautilus LIMS for Biobanking and BioSpecimen Management will help manage biospecimen locations, online requests, chain-of-custody and patient demographics.

Built on the superior plate handling, hierarchical sample management and patented workflows of Nautilus LIMS, this new biobanking functionality will contribute to the increasing role of biobanks and biorepositories in meeting research and development requirements for relevant biospecimens.

Biospecimens serve as the basis for the novel research and development needed for the discovery of breakthrough drugs and medical treatments. The increased focus on translational medicine and epidemiology has led to a surge in the number of samples generated for research and analysis and to the development of extensive biobanks and repositories that provide the samples and libraries necessary for the high-throughput laboratories engaged in drug discovery research and development. The function of biobanks is quite diverse and can range from the storage of frozen cell aliquots intended for primary pharmaceutical screening and tissue biopsies for disease research to patient DNA samples used by government agencies and large, multi-sample population libraries for translational studies.

Thermo Scientific Nautilus LIMS for Biobanks can help accelerate sample analysis by providing optimized logistical and operational support to researchers by ensuring that samples are available when and where they are needed. Nautilus LIMS also delivers well-organized, accurate and timely data, providing both the scientific and business users with meaningful information essential for discovery and the daily decision-making process of the business of the biobank.

Thermo Scientific Nautilus LIMS is specifically designed to address the unique challenges of specimen collection and banking for pharmaceutical discovery and clinical operations, academic and biosciences research centers, medical institutions and contract research organizations. Nautilus LIMS for Biobanks is a preconfigured version of Nautilus that not only facilitates data capture and specification management, but also facilitates chain-of-custody and handling assurance needs that improve operational efficiencies. Whether storing or tracking whole blood, tissue, cellular lysates, DNA, RNA, proteins, etc., Nautilus supports organization-wide inventory control. Nautilus’s web interface provides centralized global access in a secure environment. In addition, Nautilus’s built-in patented graphical workflow utility tool allows an organization to easily extend its capabilities and tailor the solution to its laboratory’s unique data capture, result management, storage and specimen handling requirements.

In addition to Nautilus LIMS, Thermo Fisher has a broad array of products that are tailored to the needs of biobanks and biorepositories and delivered in a unique end-to-end solution. The Thermo Scientific Biobank is an automated sample management module designed to safely store biological samples at -80ºC. It is ideal for a wide range of research applications such as cell based assays, bacterial clones, protein, DNA and RNA libraries. Also available are the Thermo Scientific 2D barcoded Matrix, NUNC and ABgene tubes, which address the distinct needs of biobanks that require permanently attached 2D barcodes for secure sample tracking and chain of custody.

In addition, Fisher BioServices provides cost-effective solutions that use a focused process for clinical supply outsourcing and cover preclinical through phase IV studies. These complete solutions and technologies enable biobanks and biorepositories to ensure sample integrity, secure tracking and audit trails.