ISpecimen Inc. launched the online iSpecimen Marketplace in June as a portal where pharmaceutical and biotechnology research scientists can procure biospecimens used in such projects as cancer research.
The marketplace launched with about one million specimens—including biofluids, solid tissue and cells. Scientists can research online to determine the suitability of each specimen for their research projects, then click to request a price quote before placing an order. At the same time, health organizations with available biospecimens use the marketplace to find researchers interested and qualified to conduct the type of research work a health organization is looking to sponsor.
“Providing specimens through the iSpecimen Marketplace generates value for us on multiple levels,” says Amer Abouhamze, assistant director of the CTSI Biorepository at the University of Florida. “It allows us to reach thousands of scientists who are in need of high-quality biospecimens, providing us with an excellent method to more easily fulfill our research mission.”
Procuring biospecimens can be extremely complicated, requiring researchers to abide by strict guidelines set by their laboratories to ensure they procure biospecimens from approved sources. In addition, researchers must be aware of any restrictions on the use of procured biospecimens set by the individual person, or donor, who provided the material to the health organization making it available to researchers.
To provide increased control of the procurement—or “source to settle” process of matching researchers and suppliers and completing a purchase—iSpecimen has teamed up with Scientist.com to provide online software designed to ensure that buyers and suppliers exchange information and conduct transactions according to their respective organizations’ rules. For the researchers, or buyers, the Compli software ensures they deal only with approved suppliers and procure the right biospecimens needed for their research projects; for the suppliers, the tool is designed to ensure that, for example, they provide buyers with accurate information that individual donors have set regarding the use of their material.
“Our aim is to connect researchers with the highest-quality sample providers,” says Matt McLoughlin, senior director for compliance at Scientist.com.
Adds Christopher Ianelli, CEO of iSpecimen, “Today’s researchers need instant access to the latest research services, tools and technologies. By connecting the iSpecimen Marketplace to thousands of potential research customers and simplifying the entire ‘source to settle’ process, Scientist.com helps us compete more effectively in a fast-changing industry.
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