The document discusses a presentation on flexible standardization in biobank management informatics, emphasizing the role of biobanks as active contributors to disease research and therapeutic development. It outlines the features of the Remedy Informatics biobank management system (BMS), which integrates flexibility and standardization across biospecimen and donor information management. Bruce Pharr, the author, presents the product roadmap and insights gained while working with Remedy Informatics to enhance biobank operations.

1.
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
© 2015 BRUCE PHARR | SCIENCE&TECHNOLOGYMARKETING
www.brucepharr.com
Flexible Standardization:
The Future of Human
Biobank Management
Informatics

2. BACKGROUND
In late 2013, I was retained by Remedy
Informatics to analyze market requirements
and develop a product roadmap for a
Biobank Management System (BMS),
author a white paper, and develop and
deliver thought-leader presentations at
leading biomedical informatics conferences.
Following is the presentation I delivered at
Bio-IT World. It is derived from the white
paper, and it describes the benefits and
advantages of a BMS that combines
standardization with flexibility.

3. Flexible Standardization
The Future of Human Biobank Management Informatics
Bruce Pharr | Vice President, Life Sciences Research Systems
Bio-IT World Conference | April 30, 2014
1

4. Flexible Standardization
Biobank History Timeline
Today, biobanks are producers, not just static
foundations, of advances in disease and therapeutic
research as well as drug discovery and development.

5. Flexible Standardization
Biospecimen Lifecycle and Biobank Management Informatics
Biobank management informatics extends beyond the
biobank to include critical pre-analytical data that ensures
accurate analytical results and efficient business operations.

6. Flexible Standardization
Remedy Informatics Biobank Management System (BMS)
Flexibility and standardization of biospecimen, donor, and
business information management through:
‒ Best practices (mapped to international standards)
‒ Ontology
‒ Configuration
‒ Interoperability

7. Flexible Standardization
Remedy Informatics Biobank Management System Architecture

8. Flexible Standardization
BMS International Standards (and Regulatory Requirements)

9. Flexible Standardization
Specimen Track BMS Requirements Model Mapped to Standards

10. Flexible Standardization
Harmonized Standards for Informed Consent Forms Requirement

11. Flexible Standardization
Harmonized Standards for Security: Log Requirement

12. Flexible Standardization
Mosaic™ Ontology – Purpose-Specific Structured Data Model
‒ Predefined, Standardized Terminology
‒ Domain-Specific Mapped Relationships
‒ Permissible Values and Validation Rules

13. Flexible Standardization
Mosaic Ontology – Domain Standards for Terminology

14. Flexible Standardization
Mosaic Ontology – Predefined, Standardized Terminology

15. Flexible Standardization
Mosaic Ontology – Domain-Specific Mapped Relationships

16. Flexible Standardization
Mosaic Ontology – Permissible Values and Validation Rules

17. Flexible Standardization
Mosaic Ontology – Standardized, Extensible Disease Registries

18. Flexible Standardization
Specimen Track BMS Configurable Artifacts

19. Flexible Standardization
Configuration
Configure (administrator)
Visualize and Utilize (user)

20. Flexible Standardization
Interoperability

21. Flexible Standardization
The Future of Human Biobank Management Informatics
1. Biobanks are producers, not just static foundations, of advances in disease and
therapeutic research as well as drug discovery and development.
2. Biobank management informatics includes:
a. Biospecimen information management
b. Donor information management
c. Business information management
3. For the foreseeable future, biobank management informatics will require:
a. Best practices mapped to applicable standards
b. Flexibility when standards and research applications change
4. Remedy Informatics’ Specimen Track™ Biobank Management System combines
flexibility and standardization through:
a. Best practices (mapped to applicable international standards)
b. Ontology
c. Configuration
d. Interoperability

22. ABOUT BRUCE PHARR
I live in the San Francisco Bay Area with my wife and son. I hike in the
Santa Cruz Mountains, eat good food, drink good wine, root for the
SF Giants, and indulge a passion for the arts.
I serve as a strategic advisor, senior consultant, and contract
corporate executive with innovative science and technology
companies in life sciences, healthcare, energy storage,
instrumentation, and semiconductors.
I have a track record of helping companies create competitive
advantage, grow revenue and market share, and increase enterprise
value. And I’ve contributed to several successful M&A events. I am a
subject matter expert in basic, translational, and clinical research
systems. I have led or contributed to the development of market and product requirements for biomedical, genomic, and
NGS products, written thought-leader white papers, case studies, and articles for leading online and print publications,
and developed and delivered presentations at major biomedical conferences.
I served as VP, Life Sciences Research Systems at Remedy Informatics in 2013 and 2014. At Remedy, I analyzed market
requirements, developed a product roadmap for a Biobank Management System (BMS), authored a white paper, and
developed and delivered thought-leader presentations at leading biomedical informatics conferences describing the
benefits and advantages of a BMS that combines standardization with flexibility.