Grid-Enabled Bio-Sample Management Application for Data-Intensive Biomarker Analysis

Data intensive biomarker analysis using well characterized clinical samples can benefit from grid capabilities for sample annotation. Lack of quality annotated samples remains a critical bottleneck in medical research, particularly when considering samples associated with sentinel events, such as acute myocardial infarction or initial diagnosis of rheumatic diseases. Pathology departments receive process and discard these and other useful samples daily upon completion of clinical testing. The Department of Pathology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital has developed a core IT platform to support prospective collection of discarded samples. This platform will serve investigators with IRB-approved protocols and support operations of the bio-banking facility.