In the ever-evolving world of scientific research and development, the role of lab automation has become increasingly crucial. From accelerating drug discovery to enhancing diagnostic testing's reliability and efficiency, advancements in this field have greatly impacted all of our lives. At the upcoming R&D and Preclinical Tools Symposium, two industry leaders – Steve Testen from Lab Sync and Imad Mansour from Hover Labs – will come together to share their insights and vision for the future of lab automation.

The symposium, hosted by Aquillius, promises to be a captivating event that delves into the cutting-edge technologies and innovative approaches that are transforming the way we conduct scientific research. By bringing together these experts, the symposium offers a unique opportunity to explore the synergies and collaborative efforts that are driving the Lab Automation industry forward.

‍

Overcoming the Challenges of Lab Automation

One of the key challenges facing the lab automation industry, as highlighted by Imad Mansour, is the significant gap in reliability and performance between automation in the lab and automation in other industries. "The quality, the performance, the reliability that you see in automation in other industries, like chip manufacturing for example, is so far ahead of the reliability and performance abilities of automation in the lab that it makes it feel like lab automation is still in the Stone Age," Mansour explains.

This disparity is largely due to the inherent complexity of integrating and controlling the various devices and instruments used in a lab setting. "We have to be able to integrate and control many different devices from many different vendors, all of which are built to varying levels of quality and reliability," Mansour says. "We have to build into our software the ability to address any of the reliability concerns with each of these devices independently."

Addressing this challenge is crucial, as it directly impacts the ability of scientists and researchers to rely on automated systems to deliver consistent, high-quality results. The symposium will provide a platform for Testen and Mansour to share their strategies and solutions for bridging this gap, ultimately empowering the scientific community to harness the full potential of lab automation.

‍

Embracing the Future of Lab Automation

As the industry continues to evolve, Steve Testen is particularly excited about the potential of two emerging technologies: planar motor technology and autonomous mobile robotics.

"We're deploying planar motor tech for lab automation, which at the moment is really only used as a transport mechanism," Testen explains. "We're also investigating lab mobile robotics, so utilizing autonomous mobile robotics to essentially autonomously move samples and become a true lab assistant around a lab."

These advancements hold the promise of transforming the way labs operate, allowing for greater flexibility, efficiency, and scalability. By integrating planar motor technology and autonomous mobile robotics, labs can streamline their workflows, reduce the risk of human error, and increase the throughput of their experiments.

The combination of hardware innovations, software advancements, and operational expertise will be the driving force behind the next generation of lab automation solutions. The R&D and Preclinical Tools Symposium will provide attendees with a unique opportunity to witness this convergence and gain insights into the future of the industry.

‍

The Impact of Lab Automation on Our Lives

While the intricacies of lab automation may seem esoteric to the average person, the impact of these advancements on our daily lives is undeniable. As Testen and Mansour point out, the speed and reliability of automated systems have played a crucial role in our ability to respond to global challenges, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

"When you had your COVID swab, the non-home kit COVID test, and it got sent into a lab, what do you think happened with that test with that sample? It went on some sort of an automated platform," Mansour explains. "There was no way that human beings were going to be able to process the hundreds of millions, if not billions, of COVID tests that were performed during the years of COVID, and so automation played a significant impact on our ability to be able to diagnose and help maybe guide the epidemiological decision-making around COVID during those years."

Testen adds, "It allows you to work on smaller scales and use robotics to automate manual processes, so you can really quickly scale your tests, make sure that they're being repeatedly run, and operate in a much more efficient manner than humans can in a day-to-day space. All of your results are getting amplified because you can run many more samples, and you can run them with confidence that there isn't any human error."

Beyond the COVID-19 response, lab automation has had a profound impact on the development of diagnostic tests, cancer treatments, and a wide range of pharmaceutical products. "Any diagnostic test, any cancer diagnostic test that you did, any blood sample that you took, any drug that's been developed over the last 30 years has all been touched by automation," Mansour says.

The ability to rapidly scale up testing and research, while ensuring the reliability and consistency of results, has been a game-changer in the world of healthcare and scientific discovery. As the industry continues to evolve, the impact of lab automation on our lives is only expected to grow, with the potential to unlock new breakthroughs and improve the overall quality of life for people around the world.

‍

The Importance of Collaboration in Lab Automation

One of the key themes that emerged from the conversation with Testen and Mansour is the critical role of collaboration in driving the success of lab automation initiatives. "Collaboration is a piece of that," Mansour says, "so it's more than just having the technical ability. It's also about the political and social will, and getting different groups to come together to do things."

The symposium itself is a testament to this collaborative spirit, as it brings together experts from various backgrounds to share their knowledge and insights. Testen and Mansour have all worked together in the past, and their ability to leverage their complementary skills and experiences is a testament to the power of collaboration.

Testen's focus on hardware innovations and Mansour's operational experience all come together to create a comprehensive solution for the lab automation industry.

This collaborative approach is not only beneficial for the industry but also for the end-users – the scientists and researchers who rely on these automated systems to drive their work forward. By bringing together diverse perspectives and skill sets, the symposium participants are able to offer a more holistic and effective solution to the challenges facing the lab automation industry.