Screensaver: an open source lab information management system (LIMS) for high throughput screening facilities.
BACKGROUND
Shared-usage high throughput screening (HTS) facilities are becoming more common in academe as large-scale small molecule and genome-scale RNAi screening strategies are adopted for basic research purposes. These shared facilities require a unique informatics infrastructure that must not only provide access to and analysis of screening data, but must also manage the administrative and technical challenges associated with conducting numerous, interleaved screening efforts run by multiple independent research groups.


RESULTS
We have developed Screensaver, a free, open source, web-based lab information management system (LIMS), to address the informatics needs of our small molecule and RNAi screening facility. Screensaver supports the storage and comparison of screening data sets, as well as the management of information about screens, screeners, libraries, and laboratory work requests. To our knowledge, Screensaver is one of the first applications to support the storage and analysis of data from both genome-scale RNAi screening projects and small molecule screening projects.


CONCLUSIONS
The informatics and administrative needs of an HTS facility may be best managed by a single, integrated, web-accessible application such as Screensaver. Screensaver has proven useful in meeting the requirements of the ICCB-Longwood/NSRB Screening Facility at Harvard Medical School, and has provided similar benefits to other HTS facilities.
Tolopko
Andrew N
AN
ICCB-Longwood/NSRB Screening Facility, Harvard Medical School, 250 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA. andrew_tolopko@hms.harvard.edu
Sullivan
John P
JP
Erickson
Sean D
SD
Wrobel
David
D
Chiang
Su L
SL
Rudnicki
Katrina
K
Rudnicki
Stewart
S
Nale
Jennifer
J
Selfors
Laura M
LM
Greenhouse
Dara
D
Muhlich
Jeremy L
JL
Shamu
Caroline E
CE
D003628:Database Management Systems; D055808:Drug Discovery; D016678:Genome; D034622:RNA Interference; D012984:Software; D014584:User-Computer Interface