idbs e-WorkBook Project

A. Prof. Susan Charman, Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Contemporary research methodologies utilised in drug discovery generate an enormous amount of electronic data which needs to be collected, analysed, archived and periodically retrieved. This form of data is not compatible with hardcopy paper notebooks due to the difficulty in storing, tracking and linking data for particular experiments and capturing all of the relevant experimental details in an appropriate format. Manual copying and pasting of data to and from different software packages is also subject to transcription errors and it is difficult, if not impossible, to trace and ensure data integrity.

The aim of this project is to support a pilot project to examine the utility of a data management system and selected eNotebook for use within the Department, assess the feasibility and challenges associated with its implementation, and determine its the applicability to other related groups within the faculty. If successful, the Department intends to commit funds for full implementation to all researchers within the Department (23 scientists) and to collaborate with groups within the faculty on similar e-Research applications.

• To pilot e-Research in the form of a scientific data management system and electronic lab notebook (ELN) to the area of drug discovery in a novel research,
• To assess the environment with the aim of full implementation to 23 scientists, and also assess the system’s capabilities to facilitate scientific record keeping, data and knowledge retention, data archiving and retrieval in accordance with statuatory requirements and adherence to the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research,
• Test the system’s capabilities to improve efficiency by minimising duplication of effort and time spent on experimental write-up and data processing,
• To assess the system’s report/publication writing and data retrieval capabilities to facilitate collaborative publication writing, and
• To share a secure, facile and searchable centralised scientific database and document technical expertise, experiences and lessons learnt when implementing e-Research with colleagues within the Pharmacy Faculty and throughout Monash University.