Automation
SMALL-SCALE BENCHTOP
AUTOMATION broadening the adoption of lab automation
Driven by the need to enable technically challenging or repetitive processes, many labs in drug discovery that were not previously adopters of laboratory automation are being increasingly drawn to the potential of simple small-scale benchtop automation. The immediately obvious benefits (ie cost, labour savings, better quality data, etc) are key to making small-scale benchtop automation accessible, particularly when they are coupled with moderate flexibility and moderate walkaway automation. Interest is greatest for those emerging applications of sample prep (ie protein and nucleic acid extraction, next gen sequencing, qPCR setup and the quantification and normalisation of genomic DNA samples). Recent advances in small scale bench-top automation can be summarised by instrument developments in the following areas: compact configurations; enclosed instruments; extended pipetting ranges; end-user empowerment; pre-validated protocols; turnkey solutions; new software; and new robotic configurations. Judging by the number of new instrument launches at the SLAS 2012 Conference & Exhibition, we can expect small-scale automation to generate considerable interest among bench scientists in the months ahead.
W
hen thinking of laboratory automation frequently what first comes to mind are large robotic systems, most often requiring dedicated or contained facilities and highly trained personnel. The past decade saw the emergence of many vendors specialising in deliver- ing such complex automated solutions. These ven- dors primarily served the needs of those pharma and biotech scientists involved in the core groups
Drug Discovery World Winter 2011/12
associated with high throughput screening (HTS) and profiling, compound management, sample storage and large-scale cell culture and mainte- nance. However, for each of these core labs there are 10s-100s of other labs both upstream and downstream in each company potentially interest- ed in more efficient ways to carry out their routine tasks. Most of these potential automation oppor- tunities do not require high throughput or involve
By Dr John Comley
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