WEBINAR | Understanding the Replication Crisis in R&D

R&D is massive, high-growth industry, forecasted to reach 2.53 trillion in global investments in 2024– up 8.3% from 2022. With high growth, comes high expectations that organizations of all industries will drive innovation – and fast – to make good return on those investments.

But research is a historically slow and archaic process, with scientists bogged down by manual processes and data capture, and/or cumbersome technology that makes it hard to execute, trace, and replicate experiments. So how can researchers accelerate R&D while navigating the sluggish, outdated processes that hold them back? From boosted productivity and better collaboration, to increased user adoption, simplified compliance, and stronger IP protection, the answer is surprisingly simple. Driving experiment efficiency starts with a better user experience. We explored this topic in our recent webinar: Driving R&D Experiment Efficiency Through the User Experience.

Watch the scientists behind the Labstep ELN from STARLIMS, Jake Schofield and Barney Walker, as they uncover why delivering an improved user experience is critical to simplifying experiment execution and accelerating R&D, and how modern lab technologies like an ELN can help deliver the efficiency your lab teams are looking for.

Watch the full webinar above or read highlights below.

How We Capture Science Has Stalled

When it comes to how we’re documenting science in the modern age, the methods the majority of researchers are using may surprise you: A shocking 90% of scientists report that pen and paper is how they capture experiment details. Beyond pen and paper, researchers also report using up to 5 different methods for data collection, collaboration, and storage. For example, a cumbersome combination of manual notetaking, PowerPoint, Excel, and SharePoint.

Electronic Lab Notebooks (ELNs) were introduced in the 1990s, evolving from the raw experience of paper-based lab books to a digital platform. The shift brought significant benefits. ELNs were easy to back up, could be accessed remotely and searched, and improved collaboration. However, widespread adoption remained elusive.

We’re often using technologies and note taking techniques that would look very at home in the 1800s.
Jake Schofield – Founder, Labstep, a STARLIMS Company

In the webinar, Jake Schofield explains, “While going digital offered significant advantages, it also placed a massive burden on individual scientists. These professionals, already juggling tight deadlines and long hours in the lab, often from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM, found it cumbersome to manually document their work at the end of the day.” Digital systems that can be used alongside the experimentation process, rather than data-entry collection as an afterthought, provide an edge.

Jake adds, “Adoption ultimately hinges not just on the functionality and benefits of having digital data, but on improving the user experience. Making ELNs intuitive and easy to use is key to achieving better adoption and delivering a superior overall experience.”

**Jake Schofield** – Founder, Labstep, a STARLIMS Company

Jake Schofield, founder and CEO of Labstep, pioneers software solutions for scientists. Trained in Biomedical Science at University of Sussex, it was during his time in the academic research lab that he began to envision a software for scientists that would alleviate the challenges of paper notetaking and outdated laboratory software systems. Leaving academia, he began his career working for a bioinformatics startup, gaining exposure and insights as to the needs faced by R&D team at large companies. He launched the development of Labstep ELN, successfully raising multiple rounds of investment and getting backing from companies such as Google. Jake is a visionary leader on a mission to help scientists simplify the scientific process.

Can Science Be Templated?

Early ELNs mainly served as digital note-taking tools similar to word processors. Today, advancements in cloud computing and automation have transformed them into dynamic, hyperconnected platforms that seamlessly integrate with a wide range of laboratory systems and data sources. Another benefit of modern ELNs? The opportunity to create templates and interactive data collection forms.

Science often involves repetitive tasks—the performance of similar experiments with minor adjustments to parameters or elements. With a digital solution, rather than rewriting everything for each iteration, scientists can use standardized, predefined protocols to help them focus on what they do best: experimentation, not note-taking.

In the webinar, Barney Walker explains the benefits of this kind of function: “We believe nearly everything should be templated. Templates can capture 90% of the necessary details, with simple form fields used to adjust the remaining 10% of details. Protocols, methods, resource tracking, submission requests, order requests, and even entire workflows can benefit from templates. This significantly reduces the manual burden on scientists. By making it as simple as a single click to initialize experiments with pre-filled fields, we save valuable time and enhance efficiency.”

Labstep protocols provide completable step-by-step lists, which are great for tracking lab progress and reducing human error. The real game-changer was adding the ability to take a numbered list from a Word document or Google Doc and instantly convert it into interactive steps with a single click. Making things this easy is what really determines whether a feature gets adopted or not.
Barney Walker – Head of Labstep ELN Product

By making templates a core function of their ELN, Labstep makes the process of data collection feel effortless and familiar, while also reducing extra steps and redundancies. Overall, this intuitiveness improves adoption rates and ongoing use.

Having served his time at the lab-bench both during his undergraduate and master’s studies in Natural Sciences at the University of Cambridge and throughout his PhD in Synthetic Biology at Imperial College London, Barney Walker saw firsthand how outdated R&D practices hinder innovation. This experience influenced his mission of creating software, not only to make life easier for those at the lab bench, but also to accelerate the scientific breakthroughs that benefit society. His work on the Labstep ELN spans 5 years, shaping it into a vital R&D tool. As Head of Product, he drives the vision and roadmap, dedicated to innovating and solving scientists’ challenges.