Considerations for implementing electronic laboratory notebooks in an academic research environment

As research becomes predominantly digitalised, scientists have the option of using electronic laboratory notebooks to record and access entries. These systems can more readily meet volume, complexity, accessibility and preservation requirements than paper notebooks. Whilst the technology can yield many benefits these can only be realised by choosing a system that properly fulfils the requirements of a given context. This review explores the factors that should be considered when introducing electronic laboratory notebooks to an academically focused research group. We cite pertinent studies and discuss our own experience implementing a system within a multi-disciplinary research environment. We also consider how the required financial and time investment is shared between individuals and institutions. Finally, we discuss how electronic laboratory notebooks fit into the broader context of research data management. This article is not a product review; it provides a framework for both the initial consideration of an electronic laboratory notebook and the evaluation of specific software packages

Leveraging socio-technical collaborations to support researchers at the University of Florida

The Developing socio-technical collaborations to promote good laboratory practice (GLP), responsible conduct of research (RCR), and research data management (RDM) at the University of Florida (UF) proposal seeks to further support of GLP, RCR, and RDM through support for infrastructure such as electronic research notebooks (ERN), data repositories (general and domain-specific), and policies. Select ERNs, also known as electronic lab notebook (ELN), promote GLP. “The Principles of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) is to ensure the quality and integrity of test data related to non-clinical safety studies” (OECD, n.d.). “Responsible conduct of research (RCR) is defined as ‘the practice of scientific investigation with integrity’” (UCSB, n.d.).” Research Data Management [RDM] is the care and maintenance of the data that is produced during the course of a research cycle. It is an integral part of the research process and helps to ensure that your data is properly organized, described, preserved, and shared” (DePaul University, 2019). A good ERN can support GLP, RCR, and RDM in research. Good laboratory practice (GLP), responsible conduct of research (RCR), and research data management (RDM) require structural, relational, and transformative change. Structural change includes policies, practices, and resource flows. Relational change includes relationships & connections and power dynamics. Transformative change includes mental models (Kania, Kramer, & Senge, 2018). “Organizational change programmes often fail because they are too focused on one aspect of the system, commonly technology, and fail to analyze and understand the complex interdependencies that exist” (Leeds University Business School, n.d.). A sociotechnical systems theory approach to GLP, RCR, and RDM is one strategy to better understand the complex interdependencies that exist in the conduct of research. This presentation explores select socio-technical RDM efforts to support researchers at UF. Research Questions: 1. What constitutes responsible conduct of research (RCR)? 2. How can the use of ERN promote transparency in the conduct of research? 3. How can the use of ERN promote transparency in the reporting of research? 4. Does the use of ERNs promote responsible conduct of research (RCR)

Electronic laboratory notebooks in a public-private partnership

This report shares the experience during selection, implementation and maintenance phases of an electronic laboratory notebook (ELN) in a public-private partnership project and comments on user's feedback. In particular, we address which time constraints for roll-out of an ELN exist in granted projects and which benefits and/or restrictions come with out-of-the-box solutions. We discuss several options for the implementation of support functions and potential advantages of open access solutions. Connected to that, we identified willingness and a vivid culture of data sharing as the major item leading to success or failure of collaborative research activities. The feedback from users turned out to be the only angle for driving technical improvements, but also exhibited high efficiency. Based on these experiences, we describe best practices for future projects on implementation and support of an ELN supporting a diverse, multidisciplinary user group based in academia, NGOs, and/or for-profit corporations located in multiple time zones

Distributed under Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 Electronic laboratory notebooks in a public-private partnership

ABSTRACT This report shares the experience during selection, implementation and maintenance phases of an electronic laboratory notebook (ELN) in a public-private partnership project and comments on user's feedback. In particular, we address which time constraints for roll-out of an ELN exist in granted projects and which benefits and/or restrictions come with out-of-the-box solutions. We discuss several options for the implementation of support functions and potential advantages of open access solutions. Connected to that, we identified willingness and a vivid culture of data sharing as the major item leading to success or failure of collaborative research activities. The feedback from users turned out to be the only angle for driving technical improvements, but also exhibited high efficiency. Based on these experiences, we describe best practices for future projects on implementation and support of an ELN supporting a diverse, multidisciplinary user group based in academia, NGOs, and/or for-profit corporations located in multiple time zones