Use case / Garvan Institute

Transforming Biobanking at Garvan : A Story of Science and Solutions

Imagine a bustling hub of discovery: the Garvan Institute of Medical Research. Here, brilliant minds work tirelessly to unravel the mysteries of biology, and at the heart of their efforts lies the ABR Biobank, a treasure chest of animal samples that fuel groundbreaking studies. These aren’t just vials and tubes; they’re tiny keys to unlocking medical miracles. But as the biobank grew, so did the headaches. Enter Di-LIMS, a game-changing tool from DiData that turned chaos into harmony. Let’s dive into this story of transformation.

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About Garvan

Garvan Institute is a leading Australian medical research institute pioneering breakthroughs in disease diagnosis, treatment, and prevention since 1963

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Why Didata

DiData didn’t just deliver a software—they became Garvan’s partner. They customized Di-LIMS to fit perfectly, guided the rollout, and stuck around to troubleshoot. It was teamwork that made the magic happen.

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The Chaos Before the Calm

Before Di-LIMS, life at the Garvan biobank was disorganized. Researchers were overwhelmed with documentation, tracking every sample, its origin, processing details, and storage location manually in extensive spreadsheets. It was slow, error-prone, and frustrating, akin to cataloging a massive library without proper tools. Storage was another major challenge. Samples were stored in vapor phase systems, liquid nitrogen tanks, or ultra-low -80°C freezers, but without a unified system, maintaining oversight was a significant logistical burden. The experience was described as highly stressful and inefficient. Worst of all, there was no real-time visibility. How many samples were ready? Where were they? Was something missing? Without clear answers, decisions were based on assumptions, comparable to operating without a control dashboard.

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Enter Di-LIMS: The Hero of the Story

The Garvan team partnered with DiData, who introduced Di-LIMS a Laboratory Information Management System tailored to their needs. Think of it as a super-organized sidekick that saved the day. Here’s how:

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Sample tracking

Every sample got a digital ID, tracked from collection to storage, no more lost notes.

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Real time Dashboard

Key info—like sample counts or bottlenecks—appeared instantly.

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Storage sync

Freezers and tanks were unified under one system, like a smart remote for the lab.

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Automation

Tedious tasks like generating reports or creating aliquotes? Done with a click.

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Garvan saved time

The big wins

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Scalability

Di-LIMS was built to grow with the biobank’s ambitions.

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Precision

Verified data. Validated workflows. Each action time-stamped, each result traceable ensuring scientific precision at every step.

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More Research Time

Less grunt work meant more focus on discovery.

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Security

Immutable logs ensure full regulatory compliance and effortless audits.

The Team’s Take

The Garvan crew loves Di-LIMS The dashboards give instant clarity, the storage system keeps things humming, and automation frees up their days. It’s not just about managing samples, it’s about powering research that changes lives.

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User 1Founder

the opinion

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User 1Founder

the opinion

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The Bigger Picture

This isn’t just a tech upgrade, it’s empowerment. Di-LIMS turned Garvan’s biobanking challenges into a launchpad for innovation. Better tracking, smoother workflows, and real-time smarts now support research that could lead to medical breakthroughs. It’s proof that the right tool can make the impossible feel easy.

Pie Chart of Sample Types Managed by Di-LIMS

Conclusion

By implementing Di‑LIMS, the Garvan Institute of Medical Research’s biobank achieved complete digital sample identification, unified freezer and vapor‑phase storage tracking, and real‑time operational dashboards that eliminated workflow bottlenecks. The result: faster retrieval of specimens, fewer manual errors, full audit‑trail visibility, and a scalable platform ready to support Garvan’s expanding research ambitions. This use case illustrates how bespoke laboratory management technology doesn’t just support operations, it accelerates scientific discovery.

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