ELN for Research and Development
Designed to assist researchers and developers in quickly documenting their daily work and meeting regulatory requirements.
Overview
Research and development work focuses on innovations and proof of concepts, often using a small set of samples. Scientists prefer to capture results quickly and with minimal effort, documenting their daily work in a way that remains scientifically replicable and meets regulatory requirements. The ELN for Research and Development application provides a streamlined electronic lab notebook designed specifically for R&D workflows, allowing researchers to focus on innovation rather than documentation overhead.
At Labii, we developed the Notes function to make it easy for researchers and developers to quickly document what they worked on each day, while meeting all requirements of an electronic lab notebook. The application combines rich text editing capabilities with structured data management, enabling scientists to create quick notes, detailed protocols, and maintain comprehensive experimental records—all while ensuring data integrity, regulatory compliance, and reproducibility.
This application is ideal for research environments where flexibility and speed are prioritized while maintaining compliance with regulatory standards such as FDA 21 CFR Part 11.
Use Cases
Academic Research
Document exploratory experiments and pilot studies
Track proof-of-concept investigations
Maintain research notebooks for graduate students and postdocs
Create reproducible records for publications and dissertations
Share research progress with advisors and collaborators
Pharmaceutical R&D
Record early-stage drug discovery experiments
Document compound synthesis and characterization
Track assay development and optimization
Maintain GLP-compliant research records
Support patent applications with legally defensible documentation
Biotechnology Research
Document protein expression and purification experiments
Track cell culture experiments and observations
Record molecular biology procedures
Maintain records of genetic engineering workflows
Support regulatory submissions with compliant documentation
Chemical Research
Document synthetic chemistry experiments
Track reaction optimization and scale-up studies
Record analytical method development
Maintain safety-compliant experimental records
Create reproducible protocols for laboratory procedures
Quality Control Development
Document method development experiments
Track validation study results
Record troubleshooting activities
Maintain audit trails for regulatory inspections
Create standardized testing protocols
Getting Started
Navigate to Settings → Applications from the main menu
Click Add application and select Add from a template
Choose Electronic Lab Notebook from the template list
If the Electronic Lab Notebook option is not available, it means the application is already installed in your account.
Wait for the installation to complete. The system will automatically create:
entry table for daily experiment documentation
protocol table for standardized procedures
Access the newly created tables from the side menu or search function to begin documenting your research
Application Structure
Entry Table
The entry table is designed for documenting daily experimental work and research activities.
Purpose: Record experiments or observations conducted during a day or project phase
Key Columns:
signature_status: Tracks the signature status of the entry (Unsigned, Signed, Witnessed)
Typical Use: Daily research documentation, experiment results, observations, and research notes
Protocol Table
The protocol table is designed for creating and managing standardized laboratory procedures.
Purpose: Document reusable procedures for specific experiments or analyses
Key Columns:
status: Tracks protocol lifecycle (Drafting, Pending Review, Finalized, Archived)
Key Sections:
Steps: Structured widget for step-by-step protocol instructions
Steps (Text): Rich text editor (CKEditor Classic) for detailed protocol descriptions
Documents (Attached Files): Attachment widget for supporting documents and files
Typical Use: Standard operating procedures (SOPs), experimental protocols, analytical methods
Creating a New Experiment Entry
Navigate to the entry table from the side menu or search for "entry" in the search bar
Click the + Add button at the top of the table list view
Enter the entry details in the add record form:
Name: Descriptive title for your experiment or daily work
Project: Select the associated project (optional)
Tags: Add relevant tags for easy searching (optional)
Click Save to create the entry. The detail view will open automatically
Begin documenting your work using the Notes tab for rich text documentation, or add structured sections as needed
Documenting Daily Research with Notes
The Notes tab is the primary tool for quickly capturing research activities, observations, and results.
Open an entry in the detail view and click on the Notes tab
Click + Add Note to create a new note for the current date
Use the rich text editor to document your work:
Write experiment descriptions and observations
Insert images by dragging and dropping or using the image button
Attach files directly into the note
Format text with headings, lists, and tables
Add links to related entries or protocols
Click Save to preserve your note. Notes are automatically timestamped and attributed to you
Notes are perfect for daily documentation as they capture the date, time, and author automatically, creating a chronological record of your research activities.
Creating and Managing Protocols
Navigate to the protocol table from the side menu
Click + Add to create a new protocol
Fill in the protocol details:
Name: Clear, descriptive protocol name
Status: Set to "Drafting" for new protocols
Description: Brief overview of the protocol purpose
Add protocol steps using the Steps section or Steps (Text) section:
Use the structured Steps widget for step-by-step instructions
Use the rich text Steps (Text) widget for detailed narrative protocols
Attach supporting documents using the Documents (Attached Files) section:
Equipment manuals
Safety data sheets
Reference materials
Vendor protocols
Update the Status field as the protocol progresses:
Drafting: Protocol under development
Pending Review: Ready for review by supervisor or QA
Finalized: Approved and ready for use
Archived: Retired or superseded protocols
Updating Entry Names and Descriptions
Open the entry or protocol in the detail view
Click the Edit icon (pencil) next to the name at the top of the page
Modify the name and description fields as needed
Click Save to apply the changes
For more information about editing record details, refer to the detail view documentation.
Signing and Witnessing Entries
Electronic signatures certify that records are accurate and complete, ensuring regulatory compliance and creating legally defensible documentation.
Why Sign Entries?
By signing a document in the Electronic Lab Notebook, you are certifying that:
The record you generated is accurate to the best of your knowledge
The data can be replicated by other scientists using your documentation
The record meets regulatory requirements such as FDA 21 CFR Part 11
The documentation is sufficient for patent investigations and legal proceedings
Signing an Entry
Open the entry in detail view and complete all documentation
Click on the Signers tab at the top of the detail view
Click Sign to add your electronic signature
Enter your password to authenticate your signature
Optionally, add a witness by requesting another user to review and sign the entry
Once an entry is signed, it becomes locked and cannot be edited. Make sure all documentation is complete before signing.
For detailed information about the signature process, see Signers.
Maintaining Audit Trails
Labii automatically tracks all changes made to entries and protocols, providing a complete audit trail for regulatory compliance and data integrity.
Tracking Changes with Versions
Every modification to an entry creates a new version, allowing you to:
Review the complete history of changes
Identify who made specific changes and when
Restore previous versions if needed
Demonstrate data integrity for audits
View version history in the Versions tab of the detail view.
Monitoring Activities
The Activities log records all actions taken on an entry:
Creation and modification events
Signature and witness events
Section additions and deletions
Column value changes
File attachments and removals
Access the activity log in the Activities tab.
Tracking Access with Visitors
The Visitors log shows everyone who has accessed an entry and when:
View timestamps for each user
Identify who has reviewed your work
Demonstrate access control for compliance
Check access history in the Visitors tab.
These audit trail features ensure that your research documentation meets GLP, GMP, and FDA 21 CFR Part 11 requirements for electronic records.
Printing and Exporting Entries
Open the entry in detail view
Click the More menu (three dots) at the top right of the page
Select Print from the dropdown menu
Review the print preview and adjust print settings as needed
Print to paper or save as PDF for archival or sharing purposes
Learn more about printing options at Print.
Managing Entries in List View
The table list view provides powerful tools for organizing and managing your entries and protocols.
Viewing and Filtering Records
Use the search bar to find specific entries by name or content
Apply filters to show only relevant records (e.g., unsigned entries, specific projects)
Sort by columns such as creation date, name, or signature status
Switch between different view layouts (list, grid, calendar)
Bulk Operations
Select multiple entries using checkboxes
Apply bulk actions such as tagging, archiving, or exporting
Move entries to different projects
Update column values across multiple records
For comprehensive information about list view features, see the list view documentation.
Advanced Features
Linking Entries and Protocols
Create connections between related entries and protocols:
Open an entry in detail view
Add a section widget that supports references (e.g., Rich Text, Table)
Insert links to related protocols or other entries using the insert link function
Clicking these links will navigate directly to the referenced records, creating a connected research notebook
Using Templates for Standardized Documentation
Create entry templates for recurring experiment types:
Create an entry with your desired structure (sections, columns, content)
In the list view, select the entry and click Duplicate
Use the duplicated entry as a starting point for similar experiments
Templates save time and ensure consistency across similar experiments, making your documentation more efficient and standardized.
Collaborative Research Documentation
Multiple team members can collaborate on entries:
Share entries with team members by assigning them to the same project
Use comments to discuss findings and observations
Request witnesses to review and co-sign important entries
Track who accessed and modified entries through audit trails
Related Documentation
The ELN for Research and Development application provides researchers and developers with a flexible, efficient way to document their daily work while meeting regulatory requirements. With its combination of quick note-taking, structured protocols, electronic signatures, comprehensive audit trails, and version control, the application streamlines research documentation processes and ensures accurate, secure, and compliant records for academic, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology research environments.
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