Vanderbilt University’s Jim Ayers Institute Installs Proteus to Manage Cancer Research Data

GenoLogics, a leading developer of lab and data management software solutions for life sciences research, today announced Vanderbilt University’s Jim Ayers Institute for Precancer Detection and Diagnosis has implemented GenoLogics’ Proteus™ laboratory and data management solution. Proteus™ was selected to assist with the Ayers Institute research focused on early identification and treatment of colorectal cancer.

The Ayers Institute, led by Dr. Daniel Liebler, is working in conjunction with the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center and the Vanderbilt GI SPORE program towards the ultimate goals of developing a blood test for early detection of colorectal cancers, as well as individualized therapies or ‘personalized medicine’ for targeted treatment of specific tumor types.

This ambitious research involves extensive clinical trials with thousands of participants at centers across the US, necessitating effective sample tracking and data storage. The Proteus data management solution gives researchers the ability to incorporate clinical data and track non-identifiable patient data, and its LabLink™ web collaboration system allows Vanderbilt University’s global network of collaborators to submit and receive sample information in Excel format.

Proteus lets researchers create elaborate searches and perform data comparisons involving disease states and tissue proteotypes. Proteus’ powerful search functionality allows for quick and easy access to data and facilitating deep data mining. Samples that enter the Ayers Institute labs can be easily added with a mouse click and recorded using bar codes, which reduces errors from manual entry and decreases the time needed to log in samples.

James DeGreef, VP Product Management at GenoLogics, commented, “Vanderbilt University is known as a true technology leader in the field of proteomics research and we are extremely pleased that they have chosen a GenoLogics lab and data management solution to aid them with their early detection cancer research. We have a collaborative relationship with the Jim Ayers Institute and we will work closely with them as they implement our solution.”

Proteus’ open architecture ensures integration with a wide array of instrumentation and software tools, and the open database and ease of configuration frees bioinformaticians to focus on developing analytical tools. Proteus integrates scientific data from wide array of instruments and software for gel electrophoresis, mass spectrometry, protein search engines, and data analysis tools via specialized modules that manage the capture, integration, and analysis of research data.

A proteomics LIMS that would improve laboratory efficiency and productivity was a key requirement for the Ayers Institute, because the more quickly research progresses, the sooner thousands of Americans who suffer from colorectal cancer (the second most common cancer in the US) may benefit from targeted therapies designed for the specific type and stage of their cancer. GenoLogics is proud to provide an effective tool to the Ayers Institute and the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center enabling them towards a future where cancers are either detected at the precancerous stage, or cured through personalized therapies.