A platform for lab management, note-keeping and automation
This article has been Reviewed by the following groups
Listed in
- Evaluated articles (Arcadia Science)
Abstract
We report a lab management concept and its no-code implementation based on general-purpose database services, such as Airtable. The solution we describe allows for integrated management of samples, lab procedures, experimental notes and data within a single browser-based application, and supports custom automations. We believe that this system can benefit a wide scientific audience by offering communication-less retrieval of information, collaborative editing, unified sample labelling and data keeping style. A template database is available at airtable.com/universe/expPcKlB7VCHE6wVK/lab-management .
Article activity feed
-
Research laboratories rely on dynamic registries of samples, experiments, and data. Keeping and updating them is essential for productive and coherent research. In addition to samples and data management, most researchers keep notes of their experimental work, typically in the form of physical lab notebooks or their electronic equivalents.
Thanks for sharing this work! This appears to be a super practical solution to a pervasive challenge in biology labs. I think you've identified some key issues with how a lot of research is done --- particularly the failures to document relationships between research objects and the sporadic nature of data recording. I have two questions about the practical aspects:
First, what's your experience been with researcher adoption? Are scientists you've approached generally eager to start using your …
Research laboratories rely on dynamic registries of samples, experiments, and data. Keeping and updating them is essential for productive and coherent research. In addition to samples and data management, most researchers keep notes of their experimental work, typically in the form of physical lab notebooks or their electronic equivalents.
Thanks for sharing this work! This appears to be a super practical solution to a pervasive challenge in biology labs. I think you've identified some key issues with how a lot of research is done --- particularly the failures to document relationships between research objects and the sporadic nature of data recording. I have two questions about the practical aspects:
First, what's your experience been with researcher adoption? Are scientists you've approached generally eager to start using your platform, or do you find that you need to persuade them or provide incentives to get them on board?
Second, I'm curious how you've considered version control for protocols. In practice, it seems quite common for small tweaks to be made at various steps by different researchers, such that the "same" protocol might accumulate a number of tiny discrepancies that add up to something more significant. There's also the issue that protocols often evolve over months or years as methods are refined. How does your system handle tracking these variations and ensuring reproducibility when protocols undergo iterative changes?
-
