Bioinformatics consultants are invaluable when your business needs specialized talent and industry knowledge not currently available on your staff. With their vast resources, bioinformatics agencies help clients overcome increasing regulations and pricing pressures to address issues affecting business growth. Bioinformatics consulting companies use complex biological and data analysis skills to develop detailed bioinformatics and biotech solutions.

Before beginning your search for bioinformatics project consultants, it is important to define your consulting needs. Clearly identify the goal of your bioinformatics consultancy, including project scope, services needed, time frame and budget. This information will help you select the best biotech consultants to meet your specific needs.

When selecting a bioinformatics consulting firm for your organization, research each consulting practice and evaluate the following:

1. How much experience do the bioinformatics consultancies have in providing solutions for your business market?

2. What value-added services do the biotech bioinformatics consulting firms offer for improved data analysis and increased business profitability?

3. How much should your business invest in bioinformatics consulting services?

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Hire bioinformatics consultants who specialize in your business sector

Select biotech bioinformatics consultants who are seasoned professionals with extensive experience in your market. Ask to see a list of past and present clients, and request references.

I recommend: Campbell Alliance Group serves leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, and features an extensive online client list. Genedata provides software solutions for a range of pharmaceutical, biotech, agrochemical and life science companies, and includes an online client list. Percepta Associates provides bioinformatics consulting for a diverse client base, and showcases its client list.

Choose consultants for bioinformatics with reputable skills

Review the consulting work provided by each bioinformatics group. Evaluate each bioinformatics consulting firm's experience, qualifications and certifications, and request successful project examples of the specific skill sets you need.

I recommend: BioInformatics Services specializes in applying computational biology to help clients find solutions to biological and data analysis challenges. AFS Informatics provides customized bioinformatics and computational biology programs, training and advisory services. Kevin Kennedy & Associates. offers experts in life science technology including biotechnology, biopharmaceuticals, molecular diagnostics and biotech research and development.

Select a consultancy in bioinformatics that meets your budget

Many bioinformatics consulting companies operate on a retainer with a minimum time commitment. Several utilize an hourly fee structure for short-term projects. Your bioinformatics consultancy cost will depend upon the scope of your services.

I recommend: Get a price estimate for strategic biotech consulting services at Symyx Technologies. Request a quote for clinical and biological process development consulting services at Rebbeson.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Make sure that it is written into your contract that the Bioinformatics project consultants will not provide bioinformatics consulting services to any direct competitor during the course of your professional relationship.