L7 | CHATS

thought leadership

Breaking Down Data Silos in Life Sciences for Smarter AI

by Vasu Rangadass, Ph.D. | posted on January 29, 2025

Work smarter, not harder

 

The life sciences industry is at a unique juncture. On one hand, we have incredible scientific breakthroughs and unprecedented advancements in AI and machine learning. On the other hand, we face the growing complexity of siloed systems and disconnected workflows that threaten innovation. Data flows through a maze of siloed systems—LIMS, ELN, MES, and more—from research labs to manufacturing floors. Each system operates in isolation, creating inefficiencies that slow discovery, inflate costs, and jeopardize quality.

“Existing architectures hinder the velocity of innovation. Moving experimental data from one silo to another is cumbersome, and contextualizing this data is even more challenging. This manual process is unsustainable and error-prone, especially as organizations aim to leverage AI and machine learning.”

 

At L7 Informatics, we’ve long believed that the key to overcoming these challenges lies in a unifying execution platform. Our L7|ESP® (Enterprise Science Platform) was built with this goal in mind. Grounded in principles outlined by Gartner in 2018, L7|ESP integrates data and processes across research, development, and manufacturing into one seamless ecosystem. Here’s how it works:

  • Ontology Management: To ensure consistency, L7|ESP normalizes vocabularies across instruments, systems, and equipment.
  • Process Orchestration: Workflows are automated while remaining compatible with legacy systems, preserving prior investments.
  • Data Contextualization: L7|ESP transforms raw data into a smart, contextualized knowledge graph, eliminating the need for fragile, manual ETL processes.

 

The result? The data is clean, connected, and ready to fuel AI-driven insights and make important business decisions in real-time.

Let me share an example. One of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies faced a problem many in the industry can relate to. Over the years, they had invested heavily in LIMS and ELN systems, and replacing these tools altogether wasn’t feasible. However, these legacy systems, while functional, weren’t designed to support modern AI applications or FAIR principles, leaving their data fragmented and their workflows inefficient. They turned to L7|ESP to bridge the gap. With our platform, they were able to unify their data, automate workflows, and build a FAIR data foundation. This resulted in streamlined operations, faster time-to-market, and smarter AI integration—all without overhauling their existing infrastructure. They also created a smart, contextualized knowledge graph that enabled real-time insights and continuous improvement. 

 

“The ability to contextualize data and maintain it across systems is not just a technical feat—it’s a business imperative.”

 

When organizations break down silos, they unlock more than just operational efficiencies—they unlock the full potential of AI. When data is contextualized, organizations can perform root cause analysis, conduct rapid audits, and uncover actionable insights in real time. Processes flow seamlessly, whether for tech transfer between development and manufacturing or for gaining transparency across R&D operations. And the results speak for themselves: faster time-to-market, reduced costs, and improved throughput.

 

As the industry looks toward an AI-driven future, standardization has become essential. Every process must be based on a common language—spanning ontologies, vocabularies, and processes. This is where L7|ESP excels. It doesn’t just orchestrate workflows; it establishes the FAIR data foundation that AI needs to thrive.

 

The era of fragmented systems is over. By adopting a unifying platform approach, life sciences organizations can accelerate innovation, reduce costs, improve quality, and foster collaboration across teams and departments. Or, as I like to say, “It’s about transforming chaos into clarity—enabling life sciences to work smarter, not harder.”

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Vasu Rangadass, Chief Executive Officer

Vasu Rangadass, Ph.D., is the CEO at L7 Informatics, Inc., a leader in life sciences workflow and data management. Previously, Dr. Rangadass was the Chief Strategy Officer at NantHealth, following its acquisition of Net.Orange, the company he founded, to provide an enterprise-wide platform to simplify and optimize care delivery processes in health systems. Before Net.Orange, Vasu was the first employee of i2 Technologies (currently Blue Yonder), which later grew to be a global company that revolutionized the supply chain market through innovative approaches based on the principles of Six-Sigma, operations research, and process optimization.