The field of life science research and development has seen tremendous advancements in recent decades. However, manual laboratory processes remain time-consuming and error-prone. Automating repetitive and mundane tasks allows researchers to focus on more meaningful work. Lab automation utilizes robotic systems and software to increase efficiency, reduce costs, and improve quality control.
Benefits of Automation
Lab automation offers numerous benefits for life science and medical research organizations. Automated equipment can carry out complex multi-step procedures with high accuracy and precision, reducing human error. This improves reproducibility and reliability of experimental results. Repetitive micro-volume liquid handling tasks that are prone to error can be automated. Advanced robotic systems can work around the clock without breaks, allowing for higher throughput of experiments and analyses. Automation eliminates tedious manual labor, freeing up researchers to work on higher-level activities. It also improves safety by reducing exposure to hazardous chemicals and infectious biological agents.
Streamlining Liquid Handling
One of the most common applications of lab automation is for streamlining liquid handling tasks. Automated liquid handling workstations can precisely pipette microliter volumes of reagents, samples and assay components into multi-well plates. This enables high-throughput screening of drug candidates, biomarker discovery and other applications involving parallel processing of hundreds or thousands of reactions. Integrating liquid handling robots with automated plate handlers, incubators, readers and other peripherals creates fully automated workflow solutions. For detection and analysis applications like ELISA, automated liquid handlers boost sample processing rates from a few plates per hour to over a thousand. This significantly accelerates the drug development pipeline.
Automating Workflow and Information Management
Advanced laboratory automation goes beyond standalone instruments to integrate robotic equipment, instruments, consumables and software into customizable automated workflow solutions. Workflow automation software coordinates collection, storage, retrieval and analyses of data from dispersed lab equipment without human intervention. It automatically schedules and triggers each step in multi-stage experiments and assay protocols. Results from analytical instruments are uploaded directly into digital lab notebooks or Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMs) for record-keeping, sample tracking and regulatory compliance. This eliminates manual transcription errors and version control issues. Automated workflow and informatics tools help remove bottlenecks to improve overall lab efficiency by up to 25%.
Applications in Genomics and Precision Medicine
The field of genomics and molecular diagnostics is greatly aided by automation. Preparing DNA and RNA samples from biological specimens for next-generation sequencing or PCR involves several manipulation, purification and quantification steps. Robotic liquid handling and automated workflow solutions improve sample prep consistency and reliability for high-volume genomic and genetic analysis needs. With applications in cancer diagnostics, non-invasive prenatal testing and personalized medicine, automation enables molecular profiling of thousands of patient samples per year. It also supports clinical genome analyses and genome-wide association studies investigating genetic markers of disease. Automated sample prep and analysis streamlines precision medicine initiatives like companion diagnostics that match therapies to patient biomarkers.
High-Throughput Screening and Assay Development
Pharmaceutical R&D leverages lab automation extensively for high-throughput screening (HTS) of large small molecule libraries or siRNA/shRNA libraries. Complex multi-parameter cellular assays measuring biomarkers, pathways or disease models can be miniaturized into homogeneous, wash-free formats and multiplexed in microplate wells. Integrated screening workstations orchestrate all liquid handling, incubation, reagent addition and signal detection steps without manual intervention. This allows screening a million-plus compounds per year. Automation also accelerates assay development, validation and transfer to production lines. It fuels drug discovery by enabling rapid, in-depth screening of molecular libraries against a diverse array of disease-relevant targets and pathways.
Microbiology Automation
Even microbiology laboratories are becoming automated. For growing bacterial colonies, preparing standardized inocula and running antimicrobial susceptibility testing, automated incubators, plate handlers and software provide walkaway processing. Automated streaking systems inoculate agar plates more consistently than manual methods. They also minimize cross-contamination risks. Microbial identification and diagnostic testing is automated using molecular diagnostic platforms supporting multi-analyte immunoassays and PCR-based panels directly from patient specimens. This improves turnaround time for detection of pathogens versus culture-based methods. Overall lab automation increases microbiology lab capacity, optimizes workforce productivity and enhances reporting of test results to clinicians.
Conclusion
In summary, laboratory automation utilizing robotics, intelligent workstations and informatics tools has revolutionized research in life sciences and healthcare. By increasing throughput, precision, efficiency and safety, it transforms pathways of drug and biomarker discovery. Automation also plays a key role in powering precision diagnostics and advancing clinical research toward individualized treatments. Its applications continue expanding across areas of genomics, high-throughput screening and microbial testing. Overall, lab automation elevates the level of scientific knowledge and accelerates translation of new findings into better patient care solutions.
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