by Richard Lee, Director, Core Technology and Capabilities, ACD/Labs
The transformation of the biotechnology industry's informatics landscape, notably through the integration of browser-based applications and low-code/no-code automation platforms, is a change that aligns with the sector's overarching goals of digitalization and data accessibility. The emergence of scientists working from home has increased the demand for data access beyond the “four walls of the lab/office”. Furthermore, contraction and outsourcing of IT groups means R&D organizations seek technologies that integrate into their informatics ecosystem easily, can be deployed on the cloud, can be maintained remotely, offer scalability, and provide the flexibility for individuals within the organization to undertake workflow automation without engaging in third party services or time-intensive programming. These technological transformations have significantly impacted data management—boosting the efficiency of research and development (R&D), with the goal of expediting the drug development process.
Browser-Based Applications: A Paradigm Shift in Data Access and Management
The shift toward browser-based applications in life sciences informatics signifies a fundamental transition in the philosophy of data access, management, and sharing. Historically, scientific data management was predominantly reliant on desktop applications. While offering advanced expert functionalities, these applications had inherent limitations in terms of accessibility and data-sharing efficiency. The emergence of cloud technologies coupled with browser-based applications has effectively addressed these challenges.
There are several advantages to browser-based applications for any type of organization. They offer real-time data access from any location, breaking the constraints of workstation-only data access and enabling remote access—a feature that has become increasingly important in the current global landscape. In addition, there is an inherent cross-platform compatibility that allows diverse operating systems and devices to access these tools; enhancing user experience and broadening accessibility. Finally, these applications provide immediate updates and patches, ensuring that users always have access to the latest features and security enhancements. Importantly, browser-based applications can be deployed and managed remotely, eradicating the need for local updates on individual machines.
Moreover, browser-based platforms facilitate collaboration among multidisciplinary teams in a more facile fashion than networked desktop applications. Easy log-in from anywhere means geographical barriers are no longer a hindrance, allowing teams spread across different locations to work together more efficiently. Purpose-built software on these platforms can integrate with various data sources and scientific instruments, such as LC/UV/MS and NMR instruments, enabling seamless data flow and aggregation. This integration is particularly critical in ensuring that data from various stages of research is accurately captured and utilized by the diverse teams in life sciences organizations.
Low-Code/No-Code Platforms: Democratizing Application and Workflow Development
The introduction of low-code/no-code platforms in the life sciences industry marks a significant stride towards democratizing the application deployment and configuration process. These platforms empower individuals who do not have extensive programming knowledge, enabling them to create and deploy applications and workflows that support various stages of drug discovery and development. This empowerment is particularly beneficial for scientists and researchers who may not have formal programming training. They can now create, deploy, and modify applications and workflows as needed, allowing life sciences organizations to rapidly adapt to changing research requirements with minimal reliance on extensive IT support.
The accessibility of automation through these platforms can have a transformative impact. Complex workflows in data analysis and management can now be streamlined, reducing time-consuming manual processes and the potential for human error. For example, in pharmaceutical R&D, low-code/no-code platforms can automate the processing of raw analytical data from scientific instruments, a traditionally labor-intensive task. Workflows for data processing, including peak detection and integration, can be rapidly constructed and iterated upon, for specific instruments and techniques. This capability accelerates the pace at which data can be transformed into actionable insights and provides flexibility, as workflows can be easily adapted to new data types.
One of the most significant advantages of low-code/no-code platforms is their high level of customization and scalability. Life science organizations can tailor applications to meet specific needs and scale them as required without significant additional investment. This flexibility is crucial in an industry where research and operational needs rapidly evolve with technology advancements. These platforms enable companies to build custom solutions for unique problems, such as specialized data analysis tools or workflow management systems. As an organization's needs change, these workflows can be modified or expanded, providing a level of agility that is difficult to achieve with traditional, rigid software solutions and third-party services.
With the increased emphasis on machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI), these platforms are poised to further modernize life sciences informatics. They can play a crucial role in normalizing and engineering data into formats suitable for ML/AI frameworks. This process is particularly challenging due to the sheer volume of data and the tedious nature of data normalization and standardization, often leading to errors in data curation. Low-code automation systems enable organizations to efficiently engineer and assemble data into desired formats for use in downstream applications.
Cost Efficiency and Streamlined Operations
The adoption of low-code/no-code platforms can lead to significant cost savings and increased efficiency in software solution implementations. Traditional software solution deployment and implementation processes are often time-consuming and require a team of skilled programmers. Low-code/no-code platforms, by contrast, enable the quick creation of automated workflows with minimal programming expertise, thus reducing the reliance on external vendors and lowering operational costs. These platforms are intuitive and do not require extensive training or experience in coding, allowing scientists and analysts to create and manage simple dataflows effectively.
The support and maintenance of browser-based applications and solutions also offer considerable benefits. As organizations increasingly outsource a significant portion of their IT responsibilities, the burden on the remaining IT staff to update and maintain traditional software applications is substantial. By transitioning to browser-based applications, IT resources only need to maintain a few critical servers to roll out new applications and features to a broader user base, simplifying IT management and reducing costs.
The transformative impact of modern applications and platforms in the biotechnology industry is substantial. Browser-based and low-code/no-code applications mark a significant shift in how data is managed, analyzed, and utilized in drug development and other pharmaceutical processes. The ability to access, share, and analyze data easily and efficiently is not only enhancing the efficiency of existing processes but is also opening new avenues to leverage historical data and accelerate research and development in the drug discovery space. It will be interesting to see how life sciences technologies evolve as machine learning and artificial intelligence pilots begin to produce results, and applications broaden to become more mainstream. In the meantime, the push towards improved data accessibility and empowering organizations to leverage their own data more effectively will continue towards that goal.