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5AM Solutions Virtual Tissue Bank

A comprehensive, standards-driven, role-based web solution for biospecimen inventory, shipping, tracking, and annotation

Human biospecimens are fundamental to the translational research that will transform patient care. One longstanding problem faced by researchers has been finding and accessing high quality tissue and corresponding medical information. Knowing how the specimens were collected, processed and stored – keys to understanding whether the tissue is appropriate for the research – is another.

5AM Solutions solves these and other unique data management and workflow challenges faced by life science organizations. Our software evolves the way biomedical researchers work and collaborate. 5AM’s innovative custom software solutions overcome IT issues that can be roadblocks to discovery. We work with our clients to create tools and processes that will accelerate progress toward the ultimate goal of better health and improved patient outcomes.

We’ve recently engaged to work with the Arizona Biomedical Research Commission (ABRC – www.azabrc.gov) to create a virtual tissue bank, customizing an open-source tool created by the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

The Need

A centralized, web based biospecimen tracking system

The State of Arizona has a number of specimens (tissue, cell lines, DNA, RNA, blood, etc.) stored in hospitals and research facilities throughout the state. The ABRC sought a way to allow researchers to use the specimens – but in order to do so, it needed a solution that would allow researchers to find that the specimens exist. Among the needs:

a de-identified, consistent, searchable view of key information about specimens from multiple sources;
a way for researchers to be able to easily browse to find specimens suitable for their specific needs;
use of known standards across the tissue lifecycle; and
specimen shipping and tracking capabilities.

Our client wants a unique virtual tissue bank that leverages the power of the Web to simplify tissue banking in general and allow researchers easy visibility into available specimen options.

Almost There…

When organizations consider software to solve their needs, “off the shelf” software is a common contender. Many organizations find that while most general solutions meet some needs, they’re often general solutions that aren’t capable of meeting the organization’s specific needs. 5AM understands this vexing conundrum. Although we often build custom software for our clients, we’re also experienced in helping to make an existing solution work – we can help fill in the missing piece. This is what we set out to do for ABRC.

Leverage

5AM’s approach to meeting ABRC’s requirements is to host, extend and customize an open source product from the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) caBIG^® program called caTissue Suite. caTissue Suite will serve as the base product – providing a comprehensive, standards-driven, role-based web solution for bio-specimen inventory, tracking, and annotation that can serve multiple tissue repositories with one system.

5AM’s experienced software developers will extend and customize the caTissue tool to meet the specific business and technical needs of the ABRC.

How We Do It

Our unique Glassbox^® Software Development Process minimizes the risk inherent in conventional custom software development, and ensures the final deliverable meets the exacting requirements of all users by:

Integrating the voice of the end user into the process
Enabling client visibility into all stages of the development process
Providing production ready software at all stages

Software that Works

Our clients are 100% reference-able - you can contact them to find out first-hand how 5AM works. 100% of our software is live, being used by life science professionals on a daily basis.

Here’s what one of our clients says about our software…

Dr. Mike Berens of TGen describes his experience as a client of 5AM Solutions
Watch Video

“The speed with which they delivered was truly catalytic for getting big international projects moving real time, right now.”

caBIG^® Support Service Provider

5AM is licensed by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to adapt, enhance, and deploy caBIG^® software – we’re qualified and recognized to perform the unique customization required by ABRC. We share in the NCI’s effort to support translating research discoveries into clinical therapies, and we think software can make a difference.