Can you recommend an ELN for tracking preclinical studies and linking study notes to samples and assay results?

Yes — for preclinical studies where you want to track study notes and link them to samples, assay results, and other entities, I’d recommend looking for an ELN that also has LIMS-like relational tracking.

Good fit options

1) Benchling

Best for: teams that want strong data model linking, biological sample tracking, and collaboration.

Why it fits:

• Structured entities for samples, studies, assays, and results
• Easy to link study notes / protocols / observations to samples and experimental outputs
• Strong search, permissions, and auditability
• Works well if you want the ELN to connect with a broader R&D workflow

Watch out for:

• Can be expensive
• More powerful than some teams need
• Requires thoughtful setup to avoid becoming messy

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2) Dotmatics

Best for: preclinical and discovery organizations needing enterprise-grade scientific data management.

Why it fits:

• Good for study-centric workflows
• Supports linking experimental records to samples, compounds, assays, and results
• Often used in regulated or semi-regulated environments
• Strong integration across informatics modules

Watch out for:

• Heavier implementation effort
• Typically enterprise pricing and deployment

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3) Signals Notebook (by Revvity / PerkinElmer)

Best for: a modern ELN with good collaboration and flexible notebook-style tracking.

Why it fits:

• Good for capturing study notes, observations, and attachments
• Can associate entries with data and samples
• Cloud-based and generally user-friendly

Watch out for:

• May need integration with LIMS/data systems for deeper sample/result traceability
• Less robust than some enterprise platforms for complex relational workflows

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4) IDBS E-WorkBook

Best for: organizations needing strong ELN functionality with sample and result linkage.

Why it fits:

• Designed for scientific workflows where you need to connect methods, samples, and outcomes
• Good for structured study documentation
• Common in life sciences and preclinical settings

Watch out for:

• Implementation complexity
• Can feel more enterprise/IT-driven

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If your main priority is linking notes to samples and assay results

The key capability you want is:

• entity relationships (study → sample → assay → result)
• metadata capture
• searchable, timestamped study notes
• traceability/audit trail
• optional integration with LIMS or data capture systems

In practice, this often means:

• Benchling if you want a modern, flexible, highly integrated platform
• Dotmatics or IDBS if you need a more traditional enterprise scientific data stack

My quick recommendation

• Small-to-mid team, want usability + strong linking: Benchling
• Enterprise preclinical organization: Dotmatics or IDBS E-WorkBook
• Notebook-first collaboration with moderate structure: Signals Notebook

A caution

If your process depends heavily on:

• sample chain-of-custody,
• assay result ingestion from instruments,
• study-level reporting,
• or regulatory audit requirements,

then you may need a combined ELN + LIMS rather than a pure ELN.

If you want, I can also give you:

1. a comparison table of 5–8 ELNs for preclinical studies, or
2. a shortlist based on your team size, budget, and regulatory needs.