Addgene is a non-profit life sciences institution dedicated to helping academic and commercial research scientists worldwide. The organization works with thousands of laboratories to assemble a high-quality library of published plasmids for use in research and discovery. In 2009, Quoin assumed the primary development role for the organization’s Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) and eCommerce website. This system, used to assist life science researchers around the world, was originally developed in C++ with an open-source content management system. However, the legacy system was unequipped to support Addgene’s steady growth and the increasing traffic demands on the website and software systems. It was clear that the system required a significant update.

Quoin’s engineering team collaborated with the client to define a simpler yet more powerful architecture, and to re-engineer the system using Python and the Django application framework. Our goal was to create a platform that enables more rapid development and greater flexibility to support new end-user requirements. The new system we built supports full integration with NetSuite ERP and is fully extensible to support future growth. 

Quoin’s commitment to providing timely responses and holistic perspectives on any topic has contributed to our standing as a trusted long-term technology partner at Addgene. Over the years, we have continued to assist this client on a range of critical projects, providing support on high-level data architecture, technology selection, and their extensive portfolio of software implementation projects. Ultimately, our work at Addgene was recognized as a major factor in the organization’s success, helping its website become one of the most visited resources of its kind on the Internet.