Persistent Systems, the leader in outsourced software product development (OPD) services, and the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) announced that they are developing a high-quality biospecimen management system called Bio4D.

Initial versions of the Bio4D software, created to manage biological repositories for genetic and genomic research, have been used at TGen in the investigation of the underlying causes of disease.

Now, Persistent Systems and TGen are developing a robust commercial version of Bio4D to manage the collection, processing, storage, distribution and analysis of biospecimens, which includes blood, DNA, and tissue samples, including samples from cancer biopsies.

Systems such as Bio4D are critical to the advancement of personalised medicine, in which physicians guide care based on the genetic profile of each patient.

"Ultimately, tools like Bio4D have the potential to transform the management of biospecimens and supporting research data in a way that speeds information between researchers and oncologists," said Dr. Jeffrey Trent, TGen's President and Research Director. "Accelerating this process is one more way we can benefit patients."

A key component of Bio4D will be its ease of use. Unlike generic LIMS (Laboratory Information Management Systems), Bio4D will be equipped with features and functionality specifically designed for the needs of biobank scientists and biospecimen managers.

"Bio4D's design tool greatly simplifies the study and data collection process, enforces good biospecimen management practices and compliance with global regulatory requirements," said Peter Boler, Senior Vice President, Life Sciences and Healthcare, Persistent Systems. "The solution's web-based technology means oncologists will be able to access data and system analysis results in real time from any industry standard Web browsers including IE, Firefox, Safari, etc. and operating systems such as MS Windows, MAC, Linux and Unix, making it easier than ever before to mine information and develop correlative analyses."

Bio4D's search abilities will include clinical and molecular profile parameters, using a set of filters that could help lead to the discovery or validation of biomarkers, diagnostics and therapeutics. Bio4D has the potential to accelerate discovery in the laboratory, and help translate that information to oncologists working with clinical patients.

Bio4D is also being designed to help address high levels of regulatory, ethical and legal scrutiny that surrounds the biomedical management of biospecimens in association with clinical and non-clinical trials.

Source: The Translational Genomics Research Institute