LabVantage’s SAPPHIRE™ BioBanking Solution Selected to Support the NCI Cancer Genome Atlas Biospecimen Core Resource

LabVantage Solutions, Inc. today announced that its SAPPHIRE™ BioBanking Solution has been licensed by the renowned International Genomics Consortium (IGC) based in Phoenix, AZ. IGC was selected by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) to lead the Human Cancer Biospecimen Core Resource (BCR) component of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) pilot project. The SAPPHIRE BioBanking Solution will serve as a key informatics backbone supporting and maintaining the BCR.

In order to enhance its biospecimen collection management solution, IGC considered modifying its current software solution. However, it quickly realized internal development would be too much effort and would require an extended project timeline. As a result, IGC searched for a commercial software package robust and flexible enough to handle the current informatics requirements of the BCR, while also maintaining the capability to manage the growing number of samples handled at IGC. After evaluating a top-tier list of potential vendors, LabVantage’s SAPPHIRE BioBanking Solution was selected based upon product maturity, functionality, architecture, scalability and flexibility. Additionally, LabVantage’s extensive experience delivering solutions for biospecimen repository management was a key decision factor for the IGC.

"In order for the IGC to successfully implement the Human Cancer Biospecimen Core Resource we needed a biospecimen management solution that was functionally rich and capable of being implemented rapidly," stated Troy Shelton, IGC Project Administrator for TCGA. "Among the software solutions we evaluated, LabVantage’s SAPPHIRE BioBanking Solution offered true out-of–the-box functionality and was by far the most well-established and premier solution used by peers in the industry."

The SAPPHIRE BioBanking Solution ensures that standard procedures are used for all steps in the biorepository management process. Key processes supported include: informed consent, clinical data collection, sample collection, pathology review, biomolecule extractions, quality control, laboratory data collection, and biomolecule distribution.

"ICG’s selection of the SAPPHIRE BioBanking Solution to support its translational genomics and cancer research is further validation of our industry leading solution for biorepository management," affirms Ron Kasner, Vice President of Corporate Development for LabVantage. "We are the partner of choice for acclaimed translational research institutes, such as the ICG."