Today, most people are aware that biobanking is a huge presence in the medical world, with thousands of doctors and researchers relying on the samples in their freezer inventory to yield new data and potential therapies. However, with such vast quantities of information in so many different locations, it is naturally a challenge to use biobanking software effectively. After all, with thousands of samples listed in every freezer inventory, how can researchers be sure their information is reaching the world in a timely manner?Fortunately, thanks to new sample management systems and the help of several medical research centers, it is now easier to share data than ever before, increasing future opportunities and solutions for patients and doctors alike.
On January 22, 2015, the data analysis company SAP HANA reported that it had joined forces with the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), a nonprofit organization consisting of over 35,000 members around the world. Through a platform called CancerLinQ, the two groups plan to make it easier to share data from electronic health records, clinical trial data and more. So far, eight American cancer centers have agreed to participate in these efforts, and seven additional oncology practices are expected to join in the coming months.
The first version of CancerLinQ will be released in late 2015. To improve everything from patient experience to the actual results of the treatments, the platform will draw information from everything from tumor registries and biobank freezer inventory systems to physician’s text documents. This will help oncologists choose the best therapies, achieve lower medical expenses, and avoid unnecessary surgeries, as well as test clinical strategies in the field.
CancerLinQ’s first version will represent approximately 500,000 patients when it launches. The platform is already scheduled to be used by the Dartmouth-Hitchcock health system through a program called GreenCare. The Dartmouth-Hitchcock health system is New Hampshire’s only academic medical center, which is affiliated with Dartmouth Medical School. Physicians in the health system have commented that CancerLinQ will help them share information with their patients and improve their results. Currently, the network is working on implementing the platform into their everyday affairs.
