Freenome

Lab profile

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● Number of users - Over 100
● Number of instruments - In excess of 100
● Type of lab – R&D labs in a biotech company focused on
the development of blood tests for early cancer detection.
● Location - South San Francisco, US
● Previous system - Google spreadsheets

Background

Freenome is a high-growth biotech company on a mission since 2014 to create tools that empower everyone to prevent, detect, and treat their disease.

To achieve this mission, Freenome is developing next-generation blood tests to detect cancer in its earliest, most treatable stages using a multiomics platform and machine learning techniques.

Their first blood test will detect early-stage colorectal cancer and advanced adenomas.

Problem

Challenges Faced:

Inefficient scheduling process: Coordinating equipment bookings through manual methods led to time-consuming processes and frequent scheduling conflicts.

Limited visibility: Lab managers lacked real-time visibility into equipment availability, leading to overbooking or underutilization of resources.

Communication barriers: Researchers struggled to communicate equipment needs and availability effectively, resulting in miscommunication and delays in experiments.

Tracking usage and maintenance: Tracking equipment usage and maintenance schedules manually was prone to errors and oversight.

Solution

Freenome partnered with Clustermarket in 2021 to implement their equipment scheduling software to address these challenges effectively. The software provided a centralized platform for equipment booking, facilitating seamless communication and collaboration among researchers and lab managers. Key features of the solution included:

Online Booking System: Clustermarket's platform offered a user-friendly interface for researchers to browse available equipment, check availability in real-time, and book slots according to their experimental needs.

Calendar Integration: Integrated calendar functionalities allowed lab managers to visualize equipment bookings alongside other lab activities, enabling better planning and resource allocation.

Automated Notifications: Researchers received automated notifications about booking confirmations, reminders for upcoming reservations, and alerts for equipment maintenance schedules, ensuring smooth operation of experiments.

Usage Tracking: The software tracked equipment usage, providing valuable insights into usage patterns, helping to identify underutilized resources, and optimizing equipment allocation.

Maintenance Scheduling: Lab managers could schedule routine maintenance tasks directly through the platform, ensuring equipment longevity and minimizing downtime.

Clustermarket has improved the process of booking laboratory
equipment throughout our R&D teams, created visibility across
teams, improved insight into real time equipment status and
allowed us to gather data for equipment usage with ease.”
-Nicole Williams, R&D Lab Manager

Conclusion

By implementing Clustermarket's equipment scheduling software, Freenome transformed its R&D lab operations, overcoming challenges associated with manual booking processes and enhancing overall efficiency. The centralized platform streamlined equipment booking, improved resource utilization, and facilitated better communication and collaboration among researchers, ultimately driving innovation and advancing scientific discovery within the institution.

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