ELAN

Secure your priceless research results

“Didn’t someone try this reaction before? I can’t find any information.”

 “Oh, I see you got the same results I did 5 years ago.  It’s a shame we didn’t talk before you started.”

 It happens all too often: valuable work is lost because it was recorded only in a paper lab notebook.  Even when someone knows about the work, it can seem faster and easier to redo it than to track down the original records.

 Protecting crucial assets

Your research efforts are far too valuable to trust to paper records that are difficult to index, time-consuming to retrieve and impossible to search. With an electronic laboratory notebook system you can simplify your record keeping and save time while automatically preserving your experimental efforts for future use.

 The Élan electronic laboratory notebook system was designed with these needs in mind. Scientists and technicians who use Élan have found that it frees them from routine calculations and greatly simplifies intentionally repeated reactions, while at the same time it records their efforts in a secure manner.

Problem with paper

From the beginning, scientists have generally recorded their observations in hand-written, paper notebooks. Over time, such notebooks became important for protecting intellectual property, particularly for patent purposes.

 However, paper notebooks have not been successful in managing data. Data kept in lab notebooks is often invisible to the rest of the organization. Scientists and managers have little way to know what is contained in others’ lab notebooks.  Gradually, lab notebooks often lose much of their value even for the original author, as the number of notebooks and projects increases.

 This concern over knowledge loss led to the creation of Élan.

 Easily store, easily find

While you use it, Élan safely stores your research results – quietly, with no need for you to intervene – and indexes key information to aid searching.

 Because Élan uses MDL’s ISIS™ technology, you can search using chemical structures and reactions, as well as by text or numbers.

 Once you find the experiment you want, Élan retrieves the original Word document so you can see all the details.

Save time

• Élan automates many routine tasks, such as:

• Determining molecular formula

• Calculating molecular weight

• Calculation of number of moles, given number of grams

•  Calculating desired amounts of reagents and solvents

• Recalculating number of moles actually used

• Calculating predicted and actual percent yields

 You are then freed to focus on the more challenging aspects of planning your work.

 In addition, with Élan you can easily copy an experiment to use it as a template for a replicate experiment, and automatically determine the desired amounts of reactants, solvents and reagents when running at a different scale.

 Electronic enhancement

The basic Élan electronic laboratory notebook system was designed to augment, rather than replace, traditional paper notebooks. You can take advantage of Élan ’s flexibility and automation to simplify recording and locating your work. When an experiment is completed, you can print it out and attach it to a bound record for regulatory purposes.

 Alternatively, you can arrange with MDL to customize Élan to use electronic verification and authentication software. That way, you can further strengthen the validity of priority dates, and even consider moving entirely to electronic documentation.

 Flexibility

With Élan, you use Microsoft Word to enter experimental data and observations.  As a result, you can enter whatever text, images or other information you need in order to properly document your work. You can put this information nearly anywhere you like.

For many labs, Élan is ready to use. As a Consulting Application from MDL’s Consulting Services organization, Élan is also ready to be customized to fit your needs. Possibilities include:

• A link to an inventory system, for locating and securing required starting or testing materials.

• A link to an ordering system, for purchasing needed reagents.

• Enforcement of company-defined structure representation rules

• A link to a “compound submission system,” for securing an internal registration number or ID.

A link to a LIMS system.

Templates for experiments with a molecule or library emphasis

Contact your local MDL sales office for further information about how MDL can work with you to determine just what changes need to be made, and to implement those changes.

 Built on industry-standard tools

Élan relies on familiar tools, merging the chemical capabilities of MDL’s ISIS technology with the flexibility of Microsoft Word. As a result, scientists generally can begin using Élan with little training, and technical support is straightforward.

Technical Requirements

To use the basic Élan consulting application, you’ll need the following:

• Windows NT 4.0

• Microsoft Word 97

•  ISIS/Base 2.2.1

• ISIS/Draw 2.2.1

 Features added in the context of a consulting project may require additional software.

Download ELAN Bochure and a flyer "Beyond the printed page".

  About MDL

Élan and ISIS are trademarks of MDL Information Systems, Inc. MDL is a registered trademarks of MDL Information Systems, Inc. Microsoft is a registered trademark of the Microsoft Corporation. ORACLE is a registered trademark of the Oracle Corporation.  All other product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. 

 ©Copyright 2000 by MDL Information Systems, Inc.  All rights reserved.