Novel Use of Emergent Technologies to Improve Efficiency of Animal Model Research

PROJECT SUMMARY This Phase II project aims to continue development of a commercial qualityinnovative cloud hosted information management systemcalled Climbthat will increase laboratory efficiency and provide improved capabilities for research laboratoriesClimb is designed to offer integrated laboratory process management modules that include mobile communications tools data monitoring and alert systemsand integrated access to Microsoft Azure CloudMachine Learning and Stream Analytics servicesInitiallyClimbwill target animal model research laboratorieshoweverthe core of the platform is designed to be adaptable to nearly any research type or related industryCurrent research information management systems are primarily designed as record keeping tools with little or no direct focus on laboratory efficiency or in enhancing value of the research dataThey also do not leverage emergent mobile device technologiessocial media frameworksand data analysis and storage capabilities of cloud computingMany laboratories still use paper as their primary recording systemPaper data logging is then followed by secondary data entry into a laboratory databaseThese systems are error pronetime consuming and lead to laboratory databases with significant time lags between data acquisition and data entryMoreoverthey do not recognized cumulative data relationshipswhich may identify important trendsand researchers often miss windows of opportunity to take action on time sensitive eventsIn Phase IRockStep Solutions demonstrated feasibility of an innovative Cloud Information Management Bundle systemClimbwhich will increase efficiency and improve capabilities in animal model data managementDuring Phase Ia beta version of Climb was successfully developed and tested against strict performance metrics as a proof of conceptWe successfully built a prototype with working interfaces that integrates real time communication technologies with media capabilities of mobile devicesPhase II proposes four specific AimsDevelop the technology infrastructure to support the secure and scalable Software as a ServiceSaaSdeployment of Climb for enterprise commercial releaseDevelop and extend the Phase I prototype Data Monitoring and Messaging SystemDMMSinto a platform ready for production useExtend Climb s DMMS adding a Stream Analytics engine to support Internet of ThingsIoTdevices and streaming mediaDeploy a beta release of Climb at partner research labstest and refine the product for final commercializationTo ensure Climb is developed with functionality and tools relevant to research organizationsRockStep Solutions has established collaborations with key beta sites to test all of the major functionality developed in this proposalIMPACTBy leveraging emergent technologies and cloud computingClimb offers several advantagesenables real time communications using familiar tools among members of research groupsreduces the risk of experimental setbacksandenables complex experiments to be conducted efficiently PROJECT NARRATIVE PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCEThe NIH Invests approximately $billion each year in animal model research that is central to both understanding basic biological processes and for developing applications directly related to improving human healthMore cost effective husbandry and colony management techniquesequipmentand new approaches to improve laboratory animal welfare and assure efficient and appropriate research usee gthrough cost savings and reduced animal burdenare high priorities for NIHRockStep Solutions proposes to meet this need by integrating existing and emergent software and communication technologies to create a novel solutionClimbfor research animal data managementClimbextracts immediate value of data in animal research laboratories and extends the database into a multimedia communication networkthus enabling science that would be impractical to conduct with traditional methods