Towards LIMS (Laboratory Information Management Systems) software in global context

In Clinical and Biomedical Proteomics Group (CBPG), Cancer Research UK Clinical Centre at University of Leeds we develop Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) software for clinical research laboratories under the codename MyLIS. According to ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) LIMS Standard Guide, LIMS represents a class of computer systems designed to manage laboratory information. In this paper we briefly describe the functionality, challenges and goals; archetypes based development methodology; architecture, design and implementation; also current stage and future developments of MyLIS project. Our experiences give us a basis to believe that our archetypes based methodology allows interoperability of semantically heterogeneous software systems and therefore, for example, gives cancer researchers possibilities to share and distribute their data and knowledge with other researchers from the whole world automatically and conveniently.