Taking place in Barcelona, Spain, from 27–29 May, this important event draws scientists, academic researchers, and industry professionals from around the world. This year’s exciting program focuses on three innovative tracks: Frontiers in Technology; Screening Applications & Diagnostics; and Shaping the Future of Therapeutics.
Advancing high-throughput screening and drug discovery
Laboratory automation is playing a pivotal role in enhancing the efficiency of high-throughput screening and drug discovery, showcasing its capacity to fast-track the journey towards scientific breakthroughs. The "Frontiers in Technology" track emphasizes the latest developments in laboratory screening, automation, and analysis, illustrating how lab automation and biotechnological innovations are providing profound insights. Automation significantly boosts the efficiency and throughput of biophysical affinity screening assays, a method increasingly utilized for high-throughput hit identification in drug discovery. These assays, though complex and time-consuming, become more manageable with automation, which also enhances reproducibility and data quality, allowing for extensive testing of compounds against biological targets.
Furthermore, the revolutionary use of iPSC technology is redefining drug discovery and therapeutic applications by enabling in vitro disease modeling. Despite the technical challenges associated with iPSC workflows, automation facilitates the handling of multiple assay steps—such as medium exchange, immunostaining, and live-cell imaging—thereby improving efficiency, reproducibility, and freeing up researchers' time for other tasks.
Overcoming the challenges in screening and diagnostics
In the context of screening applications and diagnostics, especially post-COVID-19, there's a focus on the evolving landscape of medical and scientific challenges, alongside the introduction of groundbreaking technologies. Digital microfluidics (DMF), for instance, has emerged as a notable technology with its versatility in bacterial protocols and potential for integration with standard lab instruments or as part of all-in-one platforms that combine sample preparation, assay execution, and measurements on a single chip.
The reliability of RT-PCR tests for COVID-19 diagnosis has been under scrutiny due to occasional erroneous results, underscoring the necessity for alternative methods or supplementary validation techniques. In this realm, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are proving instrumental in confirming RT-PCR test outcomes and enhancing COVID-19 diagnostics.
Employing innovative strategies for the development of new drugs
Lastly, the journey of novel therapeutics from discovery to clinical application is illuminated, focusing on innovative strategies essential for developing new medicines. The potential of IVT mRNA as a new drug class highlights the importance of stringent quality control measures, such as capillary electrophoresis, to ensure product integrity by separating intact mRNA from impurities. Additionally, the integration of 3D cell culture and organoid technology in drug development and precision medicine is demonstrating significant potential to refine efficiency, improve safety, and minimize costs, particularly in the personalization of cancer treatment strategies.
We are pioneers in automation of life science and diagnostics workflows
Our deep understanding of medical and biological applications enables the analysis of biological workflows in terms of chemistry, consumables, equipment, and software. As an engineering service provider, we cover product ideation, development, industrialization, lifecycle management, and assembly and testing of products and components with a focus on mechanics, optics, electronics, and software and algorithms.
We specialize in:
- Analyzing and strategizing system designs for automation and increased walk-away time
- Developing complex fluidic devices – innovative liquid handling solutions for a range of applications
- Designing microfluidic devices – with advanced microfluidic channel design for optimized performance
- Utilizing methodologies such as
- Capillary electrophoresis – highly sensitive separation of nucleic acids and proteins
- Cytometry –using impedance flow cytometry technology
- AI and ML algorithms – we have a deep understanding of algorithmic areas
In this way, we bridge the knowledge gap between biology and engineering expertise, creating customized solutions that are an optimal fit for your applications.
Schedule a meeting with us
Join Patrick Widler (CSO) and Alexis Tzannis (Head of Business Development) at SLAS Europe 2024 to discuss how our cutting-edge engineering services can support your technology breakthrough projects. It's an unparalleled opportunity to explore collaborations that could shape the future of life sciences and diagnostics.
Let's pioneer the future together. Schedule a meeting with us at SLAS Europe 2024 and take the first step towards transforming your ideas into reality.
