Press Releases

Sampled Leader Highlights Role of Biobanking in Addressing Historic Inequities in Healthcare

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Diversity in Bio-sample Collection is Critical to the Development of Personalized Medicines

November 15, 2022 – Piscataway, NJ – The Chief Scientific Officer at Sampled1 issued a call to action for greater diversity in clinical trial recruitment and the collection of biosamples in a letter in the current issue of Biopreservation and Biobanking.

The letter by Sheldon et al, “Biobanks and International Initiatives Are Playing a Critical Role in Redressing Historic Inadequacies in Biosample and Data Access from Underrepresented Minority Populations,” states that the development of effective precision medicine tests must have broad representation from Underrepresented Minority (URM) populations in sample collection, processing and analysis.

“Genomic testing is revolutionizing the development of medicines, and Sampled is at the forefront of helping companies and academic institutions to unlock the genetic information that will lead to new treatments and cures,” said, Shareef Nahas, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer at Sampled. “However, the basis for these advancements lies in the ability of researchers to identify patterns and characteristics from many kinds of genetic profiles. Greater diversity in the collection of biomaterials and biosamples will speed our ability to develop and implement cutting-edge analytical approaches.”

Shareef Nahas Sampled SMART Labs Biobanking service leader.

“Biobanks such as Sampled play a critical role in helping to address the historic lack of representation of minority communities in medical research,” said Robin Grimwood, Founder and CEO of Sampled. “For instance, our Minnesota laboratory collaborated with state public health officials to offer free COVID testing to local minority communities. Our focus on public outreach and communication about the importance of testing, along with our ability to combine storage, management, and analytical approaches in one facility made this joint effort with the state health officials a great success.”

Traditionally, as many as 86% of participants in clinical trials have been characterized as being of European descent2. Contributors to these racial and ethnic disparities include inadequate clinical trial recruitment programs and mistrust of the medical community by those in minority communities. Dr. Nahaas calls on the biopharma industry to increase outreach to URM communities, and to implement studies and testing in strict compliance with regulations over protected health information, adherence to validated standard operating procedures for processing genomic data and a storage infrastructure designed to safeguard specimen integrity.

You can access the paper here temporarily, after the 8th of decembet please get in touch to receive a copy: Biobanking Diversity Article

About Sampled and Sampled SMART Labs

Sampled is a next-generation laboratory that unlocks the valuable data in any biological sample. Through our integrated “Sampled SMART Lab” services, we can Store, Manage, Analyze, Research and Transport biological materials, offering partners a seamless solution for all research samples. Our vision is a world where we make it faster and easier for health innovators to improve human health, with a mission for Sampled SMART Labs to be behind every transformative health innovation. Sampled is headquartered in Piscataway, N.J. with labs across the US and Europe and partner labs in the Netherlands, China and Australia.

Infinity BiologiX LLC, Roylance Stability Storage Limited and Roylance Scientific Limited are doing business as Sampled. For more information, please visit www.sampled.com

Sampled Launch New Informatics Platform, SampledSphere.

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  • SampledSphere is a new Informatics platform offering a 360-degree view of sample data
  • 5 pillars of sample data including storage, management, analysis, research and transport
  • First pillar to launch is focussed on replacing pre-existing sample storage solution

October 11, 2022 – Piscataway, NJ: Sampled1 launch new informatics platform, SampledSphere.

SampledSphere is a new informatics platform built from the ground up to provide a 360-degree view of a biosample managed by a Sampled SMART Lab. SampledSphere, is a next generation informatics platform that allows researchers to leverage the data around their samples including everything from simple LIMS tasks such as registering and searching for samples to track location and storage condition, through to accessing research results and harnessing big data.

Sample Management

SampledSphere will have 5 pillars that match our unique Sampled SMART Labs service. The first pillar to launch is focussed on replacing pre-existing systems focussed on storage with ‘SampledSphere – Store’.

“We are excited to be bringing innovation into the informatics space with our new SampledSphere platform. We strongly believe that the power of big data will be the key to success for health innovators, and as a solution provider we need to give our clients the tools needed to leveraging that power.” Said Robin Grimwood, Sampled Chief Executive Officer.

“I’m very proud of the solution that our informatics experts have built, SampledSphere represents a step change in how our clients can access not just the data on individual samples but how they can harness wider data sets, manage consent, examine sample condition, review chain of custody and in future gain access to test results and research data.” Said Stephen Wang, Sampled Chief Information Officer.

As the first ‘SampledSphere’ pillar to launch ‘SampledSphere – Store’ will allow clients to register, search and exchange data on samples hosted on a secure, serverless AWS architecture. The databases that store all of this information is HIPAA, and CFR Part 11 compliant and is stringently guarded. All communication between user browser and databases are conducted through private subnets, so only pre-authorised IP addresses can exchange information.

About Sampled:

Sampled is a next-generation laboratory that unlocks the valuable data in any biological sample. Through our integrated “Sampled SMART Lab” services, we can Store, Manage, Analyze, Research and Transport biological materials, offering partners a seamless solution for all research samples. Our vision is a world where we make it faster and easier for health innovators to improve human health, with a mission to be the SMART Lab behind every transformative health innovation. Sampled is headquartered in Piscataway, N.J. with labs across the US and Europe and partner labs in the Netherlands, China and Australia.

1Infinity BiologiX LLC, Roylance Stability Storage Limited and Roylance Scientific Limited are doing business as Sampled.

Sampled Appoints Sarah Hersey, VP, Head of Translational Sciences & Diagnostics at Bristol Myers Squibb, as its First Independent Director

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PISCATAWAY, N.J. – June 15th, 2022: Infinity BiologiX LLC d/b/a Sampled SMART Labs, announced today the appointment of Sarah Hersey, a 25-year life sciences veteran, to its Board of Directors as its first Independent Director.  

Sarah brings a wealth of experience in precision medicine and biopharmaceutical research and development gained from leadership positions throughout the pharmaceutical industry.  Sarah joins current Board members Robin Grimwood, Co-Founder and CEO and Brian Rose, Managing Director, Viking Global.

“Appointing Sarah to our board adds a wealth of experience to our business as we continue with our growth strategy,” said Robin Grimwood, Sampled’s CEO.  “We are particularly excited to have Sarah bring her insights in precision medicine, to help guide our expanding service offerings.  We welcome Sarah and are very excited to have her on our Board of Directors.”

“I am thrilled to be joining Sampled’s Board of Directors at such a significant time for the company,” said Sarah Hersey.  “Sampled’s vision of making it faster and easier for health innovators to improve human health guides the company in its future growth, and I look forward to applying my experience in precision medicine and translational science in helping Sampled realize this vision.”

Sarah is an accomplished leader and is responsible for leading a world-class research and development team of over one hundred scientists including MDs and PhDs supporting translational sciences and diagnostics.  Sarah is currently at Bristol Myers Squibb serving as Vice President, Head of Translational Sciences and Diagnostics, where she leads a team that supported more than twenty drug approvals, top-line results and other key regulatory milestones in a single year during the Pandemic. Prior to Bristol Myers she was Head of Precision Medicine, Vice President at Celgene (which was acquired by Bristol Myers Squibb in 2019) where she built and led a world-class precision medicine team. Prior to Celgene, Sarah was the Global Head of Future Precision Medicine at Novartis where she developed innovative solutions to support accurate and precise use of advanced diagnostic platforms, such as NGS.  Prior to Novartis, Sarah held multiple positions at Johnson & Johnson, Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, and Charles River Laboratories. Sarah received an MS, Biology, Biochemistry from Northern Illinois University and an MBA from California State University, Dominguez Hills. She received a BS in Chemistry from Northern Illinois University.

About Sampled:

Sampled is a next-generation laboratory that unlocks the valuable data in any biological sample. Through our integrated Sampled SMART Lab services, we can Store, Manage, Analyze, Research and Transport biological materials, offering partners a seamless solution for all research samples. Our vision is a world where we make it faster and easier for health innovators to improve human health, with a mission to be behind every transformative health innovation. Sampled is headquartered in Piscataway, N.J. with labs across the US and Europe and partner labs in the Netherlands, China and Australia.

Infinity BiologiX LLC, Roylance Stability Storage Limited and Roylance Scientific Limited are doing business as Sampled.

For more information, please visit www.sampled.com 

Media Contact: Mike Thurogood Mike.Thurogood@sampled.com

Sampled Expand Global Footprint with New Lab in UK

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NEW LAB OPENING BRINGS EXPANDED CAPABILITIES TO EUROPEAN CLIENTS

  • 3000sqft Sampled SMART Lab expansion based in UK
  • New capabilities for European clients focussed on biosample research and analysis
  • Capabilities include genomics, epigenomics, PBMC isolation, bioprocessing, DNA/RNA extraction and sample storage

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – June 29, 2022: Infinity BiologiX LLC d/b/a Sampled SMART Labs, open new lab in Glasgow, UK. The facility, based in Glasgow, UK, is a state-of-the-art 3000sqft biosample research and analysis lab focussed on the delivery of Sampled Smart Labs service offerings to European clients. Established in BioCity, Scotland’s incubator for life sciences, the lab is surrounded by innovation and houses the latest in genomics and bioprocessing technologies.

“Since the acquisition of Roylance Pharma on the same site and subsequent rebranding to Sampled, this expansion is the first major step in proudly rolling out our Sampled SMART Labs in the UK. We’ve seen tremendous growth as an organization both commercially and operationally so launching a new lab to accelerate our UK based European operations by leveraging the expertise from our other sites is exactly how we’ll take our business to the next level, and beyond.” Said Benedict Roylance, Sampled Chief Strategy Officer.

“I would like to say a huge congratulations to everyone involved in getting the new lab open for the business of offering expanded support to our European clients. This opening sets the tone for how we will look to further expand our business and the Sampled SMART Labs concept globally.” Said Robin Grimwood, Sampled CEO.

Set up to handle a wide range of client projects, the new lab is equipped with leading technologies from a number of providers including the; Illumina sequencing platforms, ThermoFisher QuantStudio Real-time PCR system, Perkin Elmer Chemagic 360 & JANUS G3, Unchained Labs Lunatic, Hamilton Microlab STAR, SPT Apricot Liquid Handlers and many more. These technologies are leveraged using the Sampled SMART Lab concept which puts the sample at the heart of lab operations and focuses on the Storage, Management, Analysis, Research and Transport of biosamples.

About Sampled:

Sampled is a next-generation laboratory that unlocks the valuable data in any biological sample. Through our integrated “Sampled SMART Lab” services, we can Store, Manage, Analyze, Research and Transport biological materials, offering partners a seamless solution for all research samples. Our vision is a world where we make it faster and easier for health innovators to improve human health, with a mission for Sampled SMART Labs to be behind every transformative health innovation. Sampled is headquartered in Piscataway, N.J. with labs across the US and Europe and partner labs in the Netherlands, China and Australia.

Infinity BiologiX LLC, Roylance Stability Storage Limited and Roylance Scientific Limited are doing business as Sampled.

For more information, please visit www.sampled.com 

US launch of first polygenic test to predict risk of cognitive decline due to Alzheimer’s disease

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Sampled, Cytox, and Vanguard Pharma announce the US launch of the first, physician use only, polygenic test to predict the risk of cognitive decline due to Alzheimer’s disease.

New test provided through Sampled laboratories, powered by Cytox’s genoSCORE polygenic risk score platform, with Vanguard providing medical liaison and customer support available from early October 2021

The Sampled Alzheimer’s Risk Test enables physicians to support patients with lifestyle changes, and guide use of drug therapy, to delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease symptoms

The new, non-invasive, test is the first physicians use only, clinically available and validated “polygenic” test, assessing over 100,000 genetic variations, to predict the risk of cognitive decline due to Alzheimer’s disease. The test only requires a simple saliva or blood sample, enabling individuals not wishing or easily able to attend healthcare settings, to provide a suitable sample from home.

Physicians can use the Alzheimer’s Risk Test to identify patients most at risk of cognitive decline, prior to invasive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) testing or expensive scanning techniques. The results of the test can guide lifestyle changes and use of drug therapy to delay the onset of disease symptoms.

Dr. Richard Pither, CEO of Cytox, commented: “Modifiable factors account for more than 40% of the risk for dementia1. Consequently, it is important that clinicians confronted with patients with early cognitive concerns, have the appropriate tools to assist in understanding the future risk of disease progression to guide lifestyle advice and clinical management. This new test can support planning, by reducing the burden of additional testing in lower risk patients, and targeting monitoring and prevention approaches to those most likely to benefit.”

The following chart shows the well-documented modifiable risk factors1 associated with Alzheimer’s disease, and executable actions that patients can take to mitigate the risks, with the potential to delay the onset of symptoms, and slow disease progression. 

Robin Grimwood, Sampled CEO, explained: “We are proud to partner with Cytox and Vanguard Pharma bringing the lab capabilities and expertise of the Sampled team to bear on this cutting-edge solution. Enabling physicians to support their patients with the most clinically appropriate treatments is at the heart of what we do as an organization. This new test will provide physicians with a critical tool to stimulate lifestyle changes and therapy guidance prior to the onset of Alzheimer’s disease symptoms.”

Kevin Danylchuk, President of Vanguard Pharma added: “We are honored to be part of the launch of this exciting and innovative test. As part of the launch activities for the Alzheimer’s Risk Test, we will be hosting a number of different educational forums – both live and on-line that discuss how this test can be optimally used in clinical practice. Our aim is to ensure that the test is widely available to clinicians across the country who can use it to help guide patient needs and care decisions.”

Contacts:

For physicians wanting to order the test please register at:

www.alzheimers-risk-test.com.

For physicians interested in hearing more about the test, please contact: alzheimers@vanguardpharma.com

Richard Pither, Chief Executive Officer, Cytox

Tel: +44 (0)1865 338 018

Adam Michael – Communications Lead, Media Contact, Cytox

Tel: +44 777 588 1813

adam.michael@cytoxgroup.com

Infinity BiologiX Media Contact:

Mike Thurogood, Marketing & Communications Director, Sampled

mike.thurogood@sampled.com 

About Sampled (www.sampled.com)

Sampled is a market-disrupting next-generation central laboratory supporting academia, government, and industry. Sampled provides global sample collection, processing, storage, and analytical services integrated with scientific and technical support in both the research and clinical arenas. As a leader in biomaterials, Sampled provides support to the development of diagnostics, therapeutics, and research in the genomics, precision, and regenerative medicine arenas. Sampled previously operated as RUCDR Infinite Biologics before spinning off from Rutgers University-New Brunswick in August 2020.

About Cytox (www.cytoxgroup.com)

Without new drug therapies, the economic and healthcare cost burden of dementia – including Alzheimer’s disease (AD) – is estimated to exceed $1tn per year in the next decade2.  AD – a highly complex disease with risk factors based in genetics, lifestyle, age, and environment. Cytox’s products genoSCORETM and genoTORTM use Polygenic Risk Scoring (PRS) to predict the risk of individuals developing AD, and to improve clinical trial outcomes through patient stratification and the genetic characterisation of the disease.

About Vanguard Pharma (www.vanguardpharma.com)

Vanguard Pharma is a leading healthcare contract sales organization serving the industry with innovative sales solutions, premier medical professional placement, and flexible partnerships that are required in today’s unpredictable marketplace. We offer unparalleled service to our clients and partners and exceptional support to our employees. In an industry that is facing many stresses and challenges, Vanguard Pharma remains committed to delivering quality solutions to meet the needs of both health care organizations and health care professionals as well as educators and sales staff alike.

About the Sampled Alzheimer’s Risk Test, powered by genoSCORE™

genoSCORE is a new non-invasive, genetic test to predict future risk of cognitive decline due to Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The test, which uses a simple blood or saliva sample, analyses patient genotypes against an array of over 100,000 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that are associated with AD. As such, the test generates a patient-specific polygenic risk score (PRS).

Clinicians can use the test to assess patients for the risk of developing Alzheimer’s, before symptoms arise, prior to invasive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) testing or expensive scanning techniques. Furthermore, the test’s simplicity of use would enable elderly and vulnerable patients self-isolating due to COVID-19, or not wishing or easily able to attend healthcare settings, to provide a suitable sample from home.

Developers of new AD drug therapies can also the test to identify and recruit patients to clinical studies, ensuring the selection of the most suitable candidates, those most likely to experience cognitive decline over the time period of the study.

This test is a measure of relative risk for future onset of Late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (LOAD) and should not be considered as standalone diagnostic test. A high test score does not indicate that an individual will definitively develop LOAD in the future, and conversely a low test score does not categorically mean that subsequent onset of LOAD will never occur. The test result should be used in conjunction with other information available to the physician.

References:

  1. Lancet Commission: Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2020 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32738937/

2. World Alzheimer’s Report 2015 www.alz.co.uk/research/WorldAlzheimerReport2015.pdf