A scalable software framework for data integration in bioprocess development

Effectiveness in lab workflows-despite progresses made in automation and lab informatics-is often hindered by insufficient integration of devices and data. The iLAB software framework, a middleware connecting and integrating devices and data, provides a plugin architecture that can be adapted to individual lab environments. Integration of devices is preferably based on standardized data and communication protocols. In addition to device integration, process data and result data from different sources (e.g. readers) are converted to a standard format and administered by a powerful database for further processing. In this paper, the use of iLAB in a bioprocess development application is described. Process parameters and measured values of two high-throughput bioreactor systems (96-well plates and 10 mL reactor vessels) are collected in the iLAB database. Data from screening experiments and offline data are visualized, analyzed, and compared. A filter algorithm allows searching for matching parameters in experiments as well as the comparison of correlated datasets, independently from the used bioreactor system. The database model enables the consolidation of data, the transition from data to information, and a solid base for management decisions on enterprise level.