We also surveyed students working in research laboratories at NYUSoM on the relative advantages and limitations of ELNs and PLNs and discovered that electronic and paper notebook users alike reported the inability to freehand into a notebook as a limitation when using electronic methods.

Over 6 months, we used the program Evernote to record all routine experimental information. Our lab, a translational science laboratory at New York University School of Medicine (NYUSoM), wanted to determine if an ELN could effectively replace PLNs in an academic research setting. While biopharmaceutical companies represent the largest portion of ELN users, government and academic labs trail far behind in their usage. Using Evernote as an electronic lab notebook in a translational science laboratory.Įlectronic laboratory notebooks ( ELNs) offer significant advantages over traditional paper laboratory notebooks (PLNs), yet most research labs today continue to use paper documentation. In this article, we review and evaluate some of the approaches that have been taken thus far and also some radical new methods of integration that are emerging. The benefits of ELN increase when they are integrated with other laboratory informatics tools such as laboratory information management systems, chromatography data systems, analytical instrumentation, and scientific data management systems, but there is no well-established path for effective integration of these tools.

ELNs offer significant advantages over paper notebooks, but adopting them in a predominantly paper-based environment is usually disruptive. Electronic laboratory notebooks progress and challenges in implementation.Įlectronic laboratory notebooks ( ELNs) are increasingly replacing paper notebooks in life science laboratories, including those in industry, academic settings, and hospitals.

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