Case Study: Ellison Institute of Technology LA Streamlines Research with Sapio LIMS and ELN

Executive Summary

The Ellison Institute of Technology Los Angeles (EIT Los Angeles), a cross-disciplinary research and development center focused on cancer and global public health, adopted the Sapio Platform in 2020. This modern, unified informatics platform, incorporating Sapio LIMS and Sapio ELN, has streamlined inventory tracking, standardized data collection for DNA extraction and cell culture, enhanced team collaboration, and enabled easy adaptation to diverse research projects. Its API-first architecture and no-code capabilities ensure the platform’s flexibility for present and future research needs.

The Customer: Ellison Institute of Technology Los Angeles (EIT Los Angeles)

Company Overview

Founded by Larry Ellison and David Agus, MD, the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT) works to develop and deploy advanced technology in pursuit of solving some of humanity’s most challenging and enduring problems. Guided by world leaders, scientists, and entrepreneurs, EIT seeks to improve lives on a worldwide scale by driving scientific and technological advancements across four humane endeavors: medical science and healthcare, food security and sustainable agriculture, clean energy and climate change, and government policy and economics.

Between EIT’s Los Angeles and Oxford, UK locations, the organization is made up of about 200 people globally, with about 150 based at its Los Angeles campus. EIT Los Angeles was established in 2016 as a research and development center for cancer, healthcare, and global public health. A cross-disciplinary organization, EIT Los Angeles includes departments and teams focused on microscopy and imaging, bioinformatics, mass spec and metabolomics, clinical and translational research, and chemistry. A small sampling of EIT Los Angeles’ diverse projects includes organ-on-chip models, digital pathology, genetic sequencing with AI and machine learning analysis, and small-molecule drug discovery.

Background

In the fall of 2020, EIT Los Angeles implemented a sample management and tracking solution to streamline and automate operations with adaptability to meet the evolving requirements of its broad, diverse range of projects.

The Challenge: Streamlining Diverse Research Workflows and Ensuring Adaptability

EIT Los Angeles wanted to move quickly with the initial implementation of its DNA sequencing workflow and then exercise continuous process improvement to enhance sequencing operations and aid in the systematic and methodical extension of capabilities to other lab workflows and operations over time.

Specific challenges included:

Managing the diversity of current and future projects on one platform.
Rapidly implementing a DNA sequencing workflow.
Continuously improving sequencing operations.
Systematically extending capabilities to other lab workflows over time.

The Solution: Sapio LIMS and Sapio ELN

Why Sapio Sciences Was Chosen

Key EIT Los Angeles stakeholders from IT and laboratory operations created an RFP and sent it to about a dozen laboratory informatics companies in October 2020. In early 2021, seven of the companies conducted demos, and three were chosen for closer evaluation. Sapio Sciences distinguished itself and was selected for several reasons. Its API-first architecture meant anything EIT Los Angeles could do through the UI, it could also programmatically streamline and automate many lab operations. Webhook functionality allowed EIT Los Angeles to extend the product any way it wanted. And, most importantly, Sapio offered a unified laboratory informatics platform. According to Frank Callari, Director of IT at EIT Los Angeles, “Most competitors offered products, but Sapio offered more; it offered a complete platform.”

Implementation Overview

EIT Los Angeles adopted the Sapio Platform in 2021, integrating Sapio LIMS and Sapio ELN for research informatics. Initial implementation focused on DNA sequencing, followed by continuous improvement to enhance operations and extend capabilities.

Key Features

Sapio Platform (Unified Informatics Platform): Integrates Sapio LIMS and Sapio ELN.
Sapio LIMS: For DNA sequencing, centralized sample/materials management, and tracking various sample types (compounds, tissues, cell lines, slides, blood, DNA antibodies, and other lab materials).
Sapio ELN: For collecting DNA extraction/cell culture data, streamlining calendar tracking, and documenting team collaboration.
LIMS Templates: For reproducible, standardized data collection.
Cell Culture Homepage Dashboard: Fosters team collaboration and documentation sharing.
API-First Architecture: Enables automation and integration with other lab systems.
Webhook Functionality: Allows product extension and workflow customization.
No-Code Rules Engines: For developing in-house experimental templates (e.g., chain of custody, digital pathology, DNA extraction, fragmentation, library prep, sequencing).

Integration with Other Lab Systems: Connected with microscopy and drug discovery databases for unified data access.

Customization and Flexibility

Roi Bagsic, a quality control analyst at EIT Los Angeles, is responsible for lab operations, including those involving the Sapio Platform. He knew some customization of the LIMS and ELN would be needed, and the flexible webhook and AI-assisted no-code capabilities were especially appealing to him. “Given the scope and diversity of projects we undertake, tracking and documentation can be overwhelming,” he said. “The easy customization and quick adaptability of the platform for the different projects and scenarios gave me confidence that it could do whatever we needed.”

The Results: Streamlined Operations, Enhanced Collaboration, and Adaptable Research Management

With the Sapio implementation in 2021, EIT Los Angeles initially tracked three different sample types: compounds, tissues, and cell lines. In 2022, as EIT Los Angeles began to understand more about Sapio’s sample and materials management and biological subtype capabilities, it started to track additional sample types, including slides, blood, DNA antibodies, and other lab materials.

Standardized Data Collection and Workflow Automation

It also started developing its in-house experimental templates using Sapio’s no-code rules engines, specifically for chain of custody, digital pathology, DNA extraction, fragmentation, library prep, and sequencing workflows. In 2023, more customized templates were created to track tissue processing and other cell culture activities. The lab operations homepage was revamped the same year to streamline calendar tracking with ELN documentation, greatly enhancing collaboration and coordination among team members.

Seamless Data Integration

Another advantage of the Sapio Platform is its ability to communicate with other lab systems through its API. In 2023, EIT Los Angeles integrated microscopy and drug discovery databases with the LIMS. The initial implementation pushes experimental and inventory information from the LIMS to databases, where it’s stored with images from microscopy experiments and plate reader data from dose-response experiments, respectively. From here, the bioanalysis team can access unified data for image or cell viability analysis.

Consistent with EIT Los Angeles’ continuous improvement process, it monitors and analyzes how different teams work with this integration through their ELNs. Its roadmap includes leveraging this learning to automate present manual processes and further streamline operations soon.

Customer Quotes

“Most competitors offered products, but Sapio offered more; it offered a complete platform.” – Frank Callari, Director of IT at EIT Los Angeles

“Given the scope and diversity of projects we undertake, tracking and documentation can be overwhelming. The easy customization and quick adaptability of the platform for the different projects and scenarios gave me confidence that it could do whatever we needed.” – Roi Bagsic, Quality Control Analyst at EIT Los Angeles

Lessons for Cross-Disciplinary Research Organizations

EIT Los Angeles’ journey provides critical insights for other research organizations managing complex, evolving scientific endeavors:

Prioritize a Unified Informatics Platform: An integrated LIMS and ELN solution offers comprehensive capabilities, flexibility, and extensibility for diverse and future research needs.
Leverage API-First Architecture and No-Code Capabilities: These are crucial for automation, seamless integration with existing systems, and empowering users to customize workflows.
Embrace Continuous Process Improvement: Implement systems that support iterative enhancements and systematic extension of capabilities across lab operations.
Standardize Data Collection: Utilize templates and automated data capture for reproducibility, reduced errors, and standardized data.
Foster Collaboration Through Centralized Platforms: Deploy solutions that enhance team coordination and documentation sharing via dashboards and integrated ELN features.

Ensure Adaptability for Diverse Projects: Select a platform that can easily be modified and adapted for a wide array of cross-disciplinary projects.

Next Steps

By selecting a unified platform from Sapio, EIT Los Angeles began to reap the benefits of sample tracking on day one. They have further automated and accelerated lab operations by leveraging more and more of the platform’s capabilities over the past three years. They look forward with confidence that Sapio will continue to add new platform capabilities that enhance and extend its role as a scientific assistant to help EIT fulfill its mission in cancer research and other transformative medical endeavors.

Conclusion

The Ellison Institute of Technology Los Angeles successfully deployed the Sapio LIMS and ELN, establishing a unified informatics platform capable of managing its diverse and evolving research needs. This implementation has streamlined sample and materials management, standardized DNA sequencing and cell culture data collection, and significantly enhanced collaboration and data integration. By leveraging Sapio’s flexible and extensible platform, EIT Los Angeles is well-positioned to continue its groundbreaking work in cancer research and other transformative medical endeavors, confident in its ability to adapt to future scientific challenges.