Sanger Institute adopts Sapio LIMS to unify genomics labs

Sapio Sciences has secured a major contract with the Wellcome Sanger Institute, which will adopt Sapio's informatics platform as its central laboratory information management system for genomic research and operations.

The agreement forms part of a multi-year digital transformation programme at the Sanger Institute. The programme focuses on its Core Operations team, which supports large-scale cellular and genomic workflows across the campus.

The Institute currently uses multiple legacy systems for sample management, storage, planning and lab execution. These systems were developed for specific workflow needs at different times. The set-up has made coordination across teams harder and has limited visibility of progress for scientists.

Sapio's platform will replace many of these tools with a single LIMS foundation. The system will sit at the centre of Core Operations. It will support demand planning, lab scheduling and data access across complex research pipelines.

The project aims to give scientists a clearer picture of how work moves through laboratories. It also aims to improve access to scientific and quality control data during processing.

Single lab platform

The Sanger Institute will make Sapio LIMS the dominant platform for Core Operations. The system will cover large-scale workflows across cellular and genomic technologies. The Institute plans to extend use of the platform across all research teams over time.

Sapio's software will provide real-time tracking of samples as they move through experiments and sequencing. It will also present users with direct access to associated data at each step.

The platform will integrate with a range of laboratory instruments. It will support workflows that cover experiment preparation, lab execution and primary analysis. The Institute expects this to include connections to new instruments that it brings into routine use.

The project will standardise how samples and data move across the Institute. It will promote more consistent management of the sample lifecycle. It will also strengthen the links between samples, process steps and related documentation.

Alongside this, the Institute expects to simplify its software landscape. As workflows move into Sapio LIMS, it plans in time to retire overlapping LIMS and point solutions. The organisation expects this to reduce complexity for scientists and support staff.

AI-ready infrastructure

The Sapio Informatics Platform includes features that support AI-based tools. These include guided workflows and search across lab data. The Sanger Institute will introduce such tools in line with its internal principles.

The organisation states that scientists will retain control of decisions. AI features will sit on top of the foundation provided by unified data and workflows.

Mike Hampton, Chief Commercial Officer at Sapio Sciences, said the partnership reflects Sanger's role in genomics. The Institute has been involved in large-scale genome projects for many years.

"Sapio Sciences is honored to work alongside the Wellcome Sanger Institute as they continue shaping the future of genomic science," said Mike Hampton, Chief Commercial Officer at Sapio Sciences. "Sanger helped set the standard for large-scale genomics, and they have very clear expectations for their scientific enablement. With this project, we will work together to put Sapio LIMS at the center of their lab operations, cut out avoidable friction in day-to-day work, and give teams better visibility of the data, workflows and resources that drive their science."

The Core Operations team will use the new platform to build a clearer view of incoming work. The system will map how that work passes through pipelines and which resources each step needs.

Planners expect this to support stronger demand and resource planning across labs. They aim to coordinate runs and allocate equipment, people and materials more systematically.

Scientist visibility

The Sanger Institute has framed the digital programme around scientists' need for visibility of samples and data.

"Giving our scientists clear, reliable answers to 'Where is my sample and where is my data?' across complex, multi-team workflows is one of our biggest challenges," said Simon Moore, COO at the Wellcome Sanger Institute. "To plan and deliver their research, our scientists need confidence that sample progress and critical data are always visible and accessible. By moving to Sapio LIMS as our core platform, we can improve how we track, manage and orchestrate work; align resources; and streamline workflows. Sapio gives our scientists modern, configurable tools that keep pace with the way we do science."

The Institute expects that a consolidated view of demand, capacity and data generation will follow once the platform is in place. It plans to roll out new technologies and workflows more quickly through the standardised system.

The long-term goal is a lab environment in which genomic research, operational planning and data access share a common infrastructure across the Sanger site.