Abstract
Reports of non-replicable research demand new methods of research data management. Electronic laboratory notebooks (ELNs) are suggested as tools to improve the documentation of research data and make them universally accessible. In a self-guided approach, we introduced the open-source ELN eLabFTW into our life-science lab group and, after using it for a while, think it is a useful tool to overcome hurdles in ELN introduction by providing a combination of properties making it suitable for small life-science labs, like ours. We set up our instance of eLabFTW, without any further programming needed. Our efforts to embrace open data approach by introducing an ELN fits well with other institutional organized ELN initiatives in academic research and our goals towards data quality management.
Highlights
Electronic laboratory notebooks (ELNs) are suggested as tools to improve the documentation of research data and make them universally accessible
In a self-guided approach, we introduced the open-source ELN eLabFTW into our life-science lab group and, after using it for a while, think it is a useful tool to overcome hurdles in ELN introduction by providing a combination of properties making it suitable for small life-science labs, like ours
The paragraph about why eLabFTW is useful for EQIPD as well, has been revised and the last paragraph was streamlined
Summary
The developers of eLabFTW being researchers themselves, provided a general purpose ELN with limited features, but a powerful database and search function Making it easy to learn and use, yet very suitable for all kinds of research fields. Trend of introducing ELNs Our effort embeds well in current initiatives from leading biomedical institutions, as the RE-PLACE Project at the Berlin Institute of Health (BIH),[11] which is an institution-wide program for adopting ELN software at the Charité and BIH, by providing free licenses to the ELN Labfolder, as well as introductory courses and support This project is combined with an evaluation study to understand if ELN usage is beneficial for fulfilling needs of researchers and to improve the quality and transparency of research documentation and data management.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
