Services

Do you want to set up lab space, or move research projects forward faster?

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According to data collected by Bidwells, a property consultancy that focuses on the Oxbridge knowledge economy, almost zero lab space was available in June, across Oxford and Cambridge, UK1. Chief executives and investors have cautioned that the lab space shortage in the “Oxford-Cambridge arc” is forcing companies to look abroad to cities such as Boston in the US, which have a much greater availability of space available. However, even in the United States readily available lab space is becoming increasingly difficult to come by. Several life science groups across major life science hubs have cited that commercial real estate is not keeping up with the demand of the scientific ecosystem2.

In the UK this was the result of a massive surge in demand by almost a quarter in the first half of 20221. This property data raises large concerns about the UK’s ability to capitalize on a surge of interest in its life sciences sector. Research director at Bidwells, Sue Foxley, stated that the shortage is worse than anything she has seen before, with many companies being forced to lease office and other commercial space before refitting them as laboratories:

“The government has grand ambitions to transform Britain into a scientific superpower, but the Oxford-Cambridge arc is at threat of becoming a victim of its own meteoric rise, with the unicorns of tomorrow increasingly being locked out of mission-critical R&D space.” she told the Financial Times2.

Rentable spaces can see significant wait lists, rigorous vetting processes and high rent rates that challenge start-ups and research groups that wish to expand rapidly. These factors could slow growth and innovation due to a restriction of access to the right resources and technologies3.

Empy lab in need of setting up

In the long term, greater investment in creating laboratory space and offices is required, however this will take a huge amount of investment from governments and organizations and could take many years to complete. Unfortunately, this solution doesn’t help many laboratory managers who are in desperate need of bench space right now. Where time and overheads are an issue, working with an external service provider could be an effective solution for those looking to move their research projects forwards faster.

With facilities across both the US and UK, as well as partner labs in The Netherlands, China and Australia as well as nearly 25 years’ experience in handling biological samples, Sampled are here to support researchers with a range of services.

Why set up your own lab space? Use Sampled SMART Labs Outsourced Biorepository & Lab Services

As one of the worlds largest biorepositories, Sampled store over 11.5 million samples for researchers worldwide that could mitigate the resources and ongoing the ongoing investment that may be required when setting up your own biobank4. From small collections provided in a variety of labware formats through to providing storage for your own freezers/LN2 tanks on our premises, Sampled has the expertise and flexibility to protect sample integrity and chain of custody documentation. Our facilities are also equipped to mitigate risks from environmental factors and feature redundancies such as back-up generators and Liquid Nitrogen supply back-ups.

Sampled Lab featuring Perkin Elmer Chmagic 360

Saving on floor space and preserving sample integrity are not the only reasons to consider outsourcing services. The value of the insights gained from your biological samples is also dependent on access to the right technologies, Sampled SMART Labs are set up to provide access to a wide range of technology providers such as; Perkin Elmer, Illumina, ThermoFisher, Standard BioTools and many other leading technologies.

If you have biologic samples you need to Store, Manage, Analyze, Research or Transport, Sampled has the facilities and expertise ready to support you today. Get in touch with one of our experts here.

Sources:

  1. Bidwells report: https://www.bidwells.co.uk/what-we-think/arc-market-databook-cambridgeshire-offices-and-labs-summer-2021/
  2. Financial Times article- Lab space shortage threatens life science boom in Oxford and Cambridge: https://www.ft.com/content/397a75aa-3047-432e-8664-d1974fbb05df
  3. Entrepreneur article- The Shortage of Lab Space in the United States Is Stifling Innovation: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/424975
  4. Frontiers in Medicine Article – Automated Sample Storage in Biobanking to Enhance Translational Research: The Bumpy Road to Implementation: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/338482409_Automated_Sample_Storage_in_Biobanking_to_Enhance_Translational_Research_The_Bumpy_Road_to_Implementation

Five Important Factors for Sample Kitting and Transporting Biosamples

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Biosamples can be precious and potentially irreplaceable. Which is why careful consideration should always be taken when selecting a partner for sample kitting and transport. In this article we will explore five factors that must be considered to ensure you biological samples arrive on time and maintain sample integrity.

1: Appropriate Sample Collection Kitting

At Sampled we offer over 500 unique collection kits that clients can choose from to meet their needs. However, clients are also able to customize each one of these sample kits to suit any bespoke needs they may have. This ability to adapt to a client’s needs is not something many transportation companies possess. However, we work with a broad range of clients from academics to pharmaceutical companies and this means that we have become experts at meeting their requirements. Most of our kits have been designed solely for one type of sample, giving clients piece of mind that their samples are correctly being kitted before being transported.

2: User Friendly Specimen Collection

It isn’t enough to be able to carry samples at the right temperature or be able to send a cryoshipper that records the internal temperature for the duration of the sample’s journey. What is also required is a collection kit that is easy to understand and use by researchers. We understand this, which is why we structure collections so that kits come as one box with everything inside that you need to store your samples correctly and safely. This means our clients aren’t wasting their time trying to make sense of instructions, instead they refer to a one-page document that shows how to package samples with detailed images and without the need to refer to MOPs.

3: Protecting Sample Integrity

To maintain sample integrity, different types of biological samples have different needs, some samples maybe solid, liquid or fragile, others may need to be kept at ultra-low temperatures and others survive best at room temperature. Which is why we have designed and produced over 500 hundred different collection kits that not only serve to hold the sample but keep them from becoming damaged too. We can ship anywhere between one and tens of thousands of samples inside anything from secure boxes to cryoshippers that can be tracked from the moment they leave a site, through to when they arrive at our facility. It’s safe to say we are experts in sample storage as we are even able to ship GMP cell lines and physical liquid nitrogen tanks or freezers that contain samples too.

4: Flexible Biological Sample Transportation

Since we have a dedicated team who work solely on developing and tracking collection kits, Sampled has become experts in the field of biosample transportation. We work with the biggest couriers on the planet including UPS, DHL, FedEx and Biocare and have established protocols in place to ensure samples get to their destination in a timely fashion. Thanks to our years of experience, our dedicated logistics team can monitor any delays and resolve courier issues since they have a wealth of experience with international customs and regulations. This means that clients no longer have to wait on hold while trying to get in touch with their courier since we are able to take care of everything.

5: Rapid Bioprocessing

Once samples arrive at their final destination, their journey doesn’t simply end there. We collaborate with clients to seamlessly process samples for either bioprocessing or storage too should they require it. We are able to color code labels and documents for site users to fit their way of working, allowing them to understand exactly where and what level of processing has occurred with the samples they have entrusted with us. Not only do these labels and documents help make auditing less of a daunting prospect, but the correctly QR labelled samples allow for automated handlers to start processing samples as soon as they arrive out our site, saving time and resources for the client.

If you’re interested in learning more about transporting or storing your samples at one of our sites, please get in contact with one of our kitting and transporting team here

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 

Managing success: How sample management can make or break a business

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It goes without saying that executing accurate and reproducible scientific research is at the heart of any successful research group or biotech. However, as research progresses so inevitably does the number of cell/tissue samples increase from a manageable level to thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of samples. At a certain point a limit is reached whereby the number of samples that must be stored or managed simultaneously becomes too much to handle internally. Having an endless sea of cells in a spreadsheet, or worse, multiple spreadsheets that are each updated without proper cross-communication, could easily lead to samples being misplaced. How academic groups and businesses manage their ever-increasing numbers of samples from various studies invariably becomes a hurdle to overcome for their continued success.

Why rigorous sample management matters

When academic groups and scaling biotech companies grow, the obvious hurdle that they must overcome is how to scale their sample management appropriately. This means at a certain point in time, it is no longer feasible for them to rely on one or more scientists to spend ever increasing amounts of time barcoding, labeling and digitally storing the information on a spreadsheet. What if the spreadsheet isn’t updated correctly? What if the file becomes corrupted and information is lost? These are frighteningly common situations that could spell disaster as precious samples that cannot be replaced become unidentifiable forever.

Not only is there an increasing amount of time dedicated to correctly labelling, sorting and storing samples, the time and resources dedicated to sample processing also increases greatly too. For example, blood samples would need to be fractionated into constituent components, including peripheral blood mononuclear cells, plasma or serum and red blood cells. Each fraction would then have to be cryopreserved under controlled conditions and stored. Likewise, for DNA and RNA samples extracted from tissues (e.g., blood) concentration, purity and identity must be determined prior to storage. These bioprocessing steps require more time and resources as the number of samples increases.

These are just a few reasons many companies and research groups turn to Sampled to manage and store samples on their behalf. Sampled utilizes LIMS software to ensure that each time a sample is handled, analyzed or stored, the sample is scanned via its barcode and the activity is logged. Tracking the chain of custody from the moment a sample is picked up from a client’s lab to the moment it is stored in a freezer ensures full transparency and great precision in real time.

Navigating the maze of shipping samples

It is well known that sample handling errors almost always occur in the field, this can be because a phlebotomist has mislabeled a blood sample, for example. It is therefore necessary to have the staff and resources to be able to understand how these errors occur as well as what the regulatory and customs agencies of various countries require for efficient shipping. Most scaling businesses simply cannot dedicate the required staff or time to deal with these inevitable hiccups which is where Sampled can help. Since we have trained staff on hand, we take care of all shipping and handling to remove the headache of paperwork from businesses so they can focus on what they do best. Our staff prepare customized kits for clients so that they simply fill the pre-barcoded sample vessels and ship them in the appropriate cryovessel we provide. Using our LIMS system, we can ensure that the correct samples arrive at the right place at the right time. At each stage the samples are scanned to ensure a clear chain of custody which is crucial for certain clients such as those looking to capture this data for clinical trials.

In short, Sampled can make a real impact by correctly managing and even storing client’s samples using properly trained staff and LIMS software. In doing so, researchers focus on the important research that matters, instead of tracking down lost samples or wasting time on the phone talking to customs agents.

If you would like to contact one of our experts about how Sampled provide sample management solutions that are tailor-made to your research, click here

Sampled at ISBER 2022

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We are proud to announce that four upcoming talks and a poster will be presented at ISBER 2022, which will be returning to the in-person conference setting in Atlanta, Georgia. Filled with innovative technology news and research findings that cover a wide range of disciplines from biorepository news, to assay development and stem cell banking, you won’t want to miss these presentations. Kicking off the series of talks, CEO of Sampled, Robin Grimwood will present his plenary talk “Innovative strategies for protecting sample integrity with an eye towards the future”. Robin will discuss why ensuring samples are available as an active resource for analytical studies, whilst continuously innovating strategies to create renewable resources for future use and discovery is crucial for biorepositories to succeed.

ISBER 2022 Will be hosted in Atlanta

Following this, Head of Scientific affairs, Dr Michael Sheldon will be partnering with Fluidigm (now Standard Biotools) to give a workshop that address sample identity and sample quality challenges. Here, Dr Sheldon will be covering what best practices should be followed involving genetic testing and Quality Control in a biobanking environment. A discussion on the need for, and challenges involving high-throughput solutions for polygenetic risk testing will be given by Christian Bixby and Jess McDevitt. Christian and Jess will explain how Sampled achieved an impressive 10-fold increase in NGS COVID sequencing weekly capacity over a 30-day period and what it took to complete this incredible feat.

The final talk, “Strategies for generating the highest quality isogenic iPSC lines” will be given by Dr Azadeh Jadali. Similarly,  a poster titled: “Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells- The next step in the modelling of genetic diseases” will be also presented throughout the duration of the conference.

We’re honored to see the expertise within the Sampled team recognised by ISBER and excited to share and gain insights from our contemporaries look forward to sharing our insights on biobanking in practice, but if you can’t wait to learn more, why not check out our brand new website to learn about our Sampled SMART Labs.

Register for the conference directly with ISBER here.

How should I store my cell/tissue samples?

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Are you backing up your samples?

As the rate of major scientific breakthroughs increases, as well as the cost of automation decreasing, both small and large companies are finding themselves asking the same question: “As operations continue to expand, do we need to invest in more storage space for our precious cell and tissue samples?”

Should you store cell/tissue samples in house or outsource?

It is usually a question that academics, who have suddenly been inundated for requests for a promising cell line, ask themselves a little too late. Equally, with the rise of CRISPR and other breakthrough technologies, big pharmaceuticals need to contend with storing more and more batches of cells/tissues in order to track the progress of their drug or treatment over time. A prime example of this is the storage of blood samples that have been infected with alpha and delta variants of COVID-19. The crucial knowledge to prevent the next variant from wreaking havoc on the population may well lie in samples taken from the beginning of the pandemic over a year ago. Of course, this means spending a lot of money on procuring and running freezers and liquid nitrogen tanks to store a vast plethora of samples.

PHCBI Sample Freezers in Sampled’s Biobank

It is paramount that these samples are stored properly so that they can be called back into the lab in the same state as when they were stored with no denaturation. This is not as straight forward as it may seem, especially for academic groups or companies who are scaling up. Simply buying more liquid nitrogen tanks or -80°C freezers in turn leads to a reduction of precious lab space. Not only do scientists have to weigh up the costs of purchasing storage equipment over other necessary lab tools, but they also must plan for the ever-increasing cost of running the freezers and tanks.

Advantages to outsourcing cell/tissue storage

Storing cell and tissue samples is something that Infinity BiologiX (Sampled) specializes in. Having spun out of Rutgers University, Sampled has become one of the largest biorepositories in the world. Sampled work with academics and emerging companies all the way up to large pharmaceuticals to tailor fit the storage and transportation needs of their clients. Even from the moment samples are collected in cryoshippers, the exact temperature for the duration of the sample’s journey is recorded so researchers can download this information for piece of mind. This is especially critical for those working in clinical trials. Once the sample arrives at Sampled’s processing lab, they are seamlessly integrated into the sample’s workflow. For example, upon receipt of a blood sample it is centrifuged so that plasma, serum, DNA etc. can be separated and stored away. Sampled not only transports collections of samples but stores the physical freezers that labs can no longer fit inside their facility, opening up space for new equipment that helps advance their research and cutting costs at the same time.

Besides considering the costs and sacrifice of precious lab space, there is also another factor to consider. Most academic and commercial laboratories do not have spare freezers that could accommodate precious samples in case their main freezer breaks down, furthermore they do not have access to backup generators if there is a power cut or if a natural disaster strikes such as flooding etc. This is another critical reason why researchers are turning to storing their precious samples with Sampled, they not only have multiple freezers and tanks to spare in case one breaks down, but also employ backup generators in case an unexpected disaster occurs.

It’s easy to see why many researchers entrust their cell/tissue samples to Sampled instead of losing time because they can’t find their sample in a thawing -80°C freezer whose door has been open for too long. Instead they can ensure their sample is safe with transportation, storage and delivery handled by Sampled.

Talk to one of our sample management experts today, get in touch!