RESEARCH

SmartLab: monitoring of lab activities goes digital

In autumn 2020, the Faculty of Medicine launched the SmartLab project, which aims to deploy an electronic tool for monitoring research activities in its laboratories. The paper notepads generally used by research teams can thus be replaced by digital tools that facilitate both daily life and compliance with the legal traceability requirements governing research. These "Electronic Laboratory Notebooks" or "Laboratory Information Management Systems" have indeed many advantages:

  • internal search engines that enable all kinds of information to be found quickly and efficiently
  • information sharing within the laboratory
  • sample traceability tools
  • ease of implementation of the SNSF's data management plan
  • standardization of procedures within the Faculty of Medicine in order to guarantee consistent quality

Following evaluations by a working group and tests carried out by pilot laboratories in the Fundamental and Clinical Medicine Sections, UNIGE chose Eppendorf's eLabNext.

After an initial test phase on a larger scale, the tool will be extended to all laboratories of the Faculty of Medicine that request it.

 

Tool specifications

The tool selected to meet the needs of UNIGE laboratories, eLabNext, has several advantages:

  • a functional interface for an easy-to-use tool
  • a highly adaptable tool that can meet the specific needs of a large number of laboratories
  • a widely developed "Electronic Laboratory Notebook" that offers extended possibilities for the traceability of experiments.
  • a mobile application (Android and iOS) to facilitate data accessibility

Coralie Fournier, who is in charge of the project on behalf of the Dean's Office of the Faculty of Medicine, is available to researchers for any questions or requests for information, to advise and train teams, and to support the implementation of this new tool.

Tool demonstration

Video produced in collaboration with Elsa-Line Huwyler as part of the "Data Science For All" project https://datascience.unige.ch/formation/data-science-for-all

Video published on Mediaserver https://mediaserver.unige.ch/play/176782 

Training 

eLabNext tutorial videos : Youtube eLabNext videos 

Specific trainings (Description) are provided throughout the year.
To register, please send an email to Coralie Fournier specifying the desired training and the date, list below.

  • 16.01.2024    2pm-3.30pm    eLabNext training : Configuration
    (recommended for Super user)
     
  • 20.02.2024    2pm-3.30pm    eLabNext training : Protocol Module
     
  • 12.03.2024    2pm-3.30pm    eLabNext : Tips & Tricks
     
  • 19.03.2024    2pm-3.30pm    General eLabNext Training
    (recommended for newcomers)
     
  • 09.04.2024    2pm-3.30pm    eLabNext training : Journal Module
     
  • 14.05.2024    2pm-3.30pm    Mandatory Chemicals traceability
    (recommended for responsible people)
     
  • 11.06.2024    2pm-3.30pm    General eLabNext Training
    (recommended for newcomers)
     
  • 17.09.2024    2pm-3.30pm    eLabNext training : Inventory Module
     
  • 24.09.2024    2pm-3.30pm    General eLabNext Training
    (recommended for newcomers)
     
  • 15.10.2024    2pm-3.30pm    eLabNext : Tips & Tricks
     
  • 12.11.2024    2pm-3.30pm    Mandatory Chemicals traceability
    (recommended for responsible people)
     
  • 10.12.2024    2pm-3.30pm    General eLabNext Training
    (recommended for newcomers)

                   

 

If your laboratory encounters particular difficulties, do not hesitate to contact me to plan specific and private training for all your members and/or a day of follow-up in the laboratory in order to guide you as best as possible in your use.

Price

A financial contribution is requested from laboratories wishing to implement the system. This includes system licensing, training, as well as support and maintenance.

The price is  CHF 100 per user per year (with a maximum of CHF 1,000 per lab).