Asterand, a supplier of human tissue and tissue-based services, has tapped 5AM Solutions to develop software that will allow it to electronically link biorepositories and identify, annotate, and distribute biospecimen data internally and with collaborators.
The companies said this week that they will link an undisclosed number of biobanks to Asterand's centralized biobanking operations in Detroit. They will also create software that will enable the company to acquire biospecimen and data requirements from researchers as well as query partner biobanks for appropriate specimens.
Once identified, specimens will be selected and qualified for distribution by Asterand.
Victoria Blanc, Asterand's vice president of strategic planning and government affairs, said the partnership will allow her firm to meet its client's demands for "large numbers of highly annotated biological specimens ... by allowing us to have vision into an ever-increasing network of sophisticated biobanks."
The partners said they will share the development costs but did not disclose additional financial details.