Presentation by Mike Jones (Lab Automation Assoc. Director) seconded into my team at the SmartLab Exchange Europe conference in Berlin on 8th February (https://smartlabexchangeeurope.iqpc.co.uk/). Brief overview about the future of scientific labs and how digital transformations are changing our approach to data capture, advanced analytics and collaboration across different scientific teams. Examples include exploratory work in augmented reality, next generation interaction, smart touch interfaces and sensor technologies.
3. Vision for Lab Science
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Create a flexible and adaptive environment
for scientists, through the use of digital
tools, that fosters a culture of collaboration
and innovation to support the delivery of
medicines to patients
4. Current R&D lab assessment
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The laboratory environment hasn’t
evolved significantly in the last 50
years BUT the science we are asking
our scientists to perform has become
more complex and demanding
1955 2016
6. The company that can
adapt fastest to harness
data will have a
competitive advantage
“ In the industry nearly
every asset,
consumable, biologic,
process, chemical etc
will have data associated
with it” – Gartner
The problems faced by
laboratory scientists at
AZ are driven by this
The Context: Laboratory science is changing towards convergence
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8. Why now? -
Some insight from
scientists
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R&D
Scientists Departments
Interview
Sessions
AstraZeneca
Medimmune
FutureLab
Digital Lab
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19
10
Global
Locations
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9. Seamless Science
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Lab is at over capacity and
infrastructure cannot support
today’s technologies
Unnecessary time spent on
day to day running of lab
Constant movement
between lab and desk to
complete experiments
Today Tomorrow
Novel technologies to
support the science
Scientific data anywhere
A lab that adapts to
changing science
10. Strengthen Foundation
Transform the lab
Seamless science to deliver scientific excellence
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Efficiency
and speed
Simplify
working
Encourage
Collaboration
Innovative
science
Generate
knowledge
Better
scientific
decisions
11. How to become seamless
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Increased lab
efficiency
Produce
Richer Science
Enhanced lab
collaboration
Augmented
reality for data
generation
Surface Hub
connectivity
Lab
ergonomics
tech
Remote control
science
Automatic lab
Create office-
lab
VR and
modelling
fused
Robot Scientist
Analogue lab Digital lab
Digital as a
service to
drive
science
decisions
Foundation Transform
Seamless Science Definition
- Scientists have the same
capability in the lab as the
office and more
- Science can flow freely
between office and lab
- Ideas and data can be shared
across boundaries and
Organisations
- Laboratory environment is
simplified through technology
and service design
Produce richer
science
POC 4 – Remote
Connectivity
POC 1 – Smart Hub / Lab
Central
POC 2 – SMART Bench
POC 3 – Augmented
Reality
12. 1. Instrument
• Availability
• Location
• History
• Documentation
2. Consumable inventory
3. Digital Media
• Seminars, Staff Meetings
4. Digital Whiteboard
5. Collaboration
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Example 1 – Smart Hub/Lab Central
14. • Projection technology to enable surface touch capabilities
• Use cases
• New starter training
• Technology transfer between sites and collaborators
• Manual Cherry Picking
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Example 2 – Smart Bench
16. • Augmented Reality to provide hands free capability
• Possible use cases
• Manual Tissue Culture
• Experimental Method SOP
• Environmental Information
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Example 3 – Augmented Reality
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Use Case 4 – Remote connectivity
• Reduce IT footprint in lab environment
• Access to lab PC from anywhere
• Real time view of instrument status
• Ability to carry out remote diagnostics
20. • Environment sensors to measure multiple parameters
• Temp, Motion, Power, Pressure, CO2
• Predictive maintenance of assets to minimize critical breakdowns and right
sizing of service contracts
• Asset Utilization to understand instrument usage
• Identify and support new demand
• Identify and redeploy or sell of under utilized assets
• Remote alerts for critical pieces of equipment
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Use Case 5 – Sensor based monitoring
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Medimmune FutureLab Physical Space
• Scientist-led initiative designed to
foster innovation in lab design,
technologies and collaboration
• Physical “FutureLab” test space
commissioned and launched in
Gaithersburg
• Collaborations advancing with MIT
Media Labs, and with technology
vendors to test and develop beta
and development technologies
24. Collaborative makespace for rapid prototyping & experimentation
Cambridge IT Tech Lab Space – Catalysing Innovation
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Electronics prototyping
Digital Projects
3D Printers
Interaction Technology Physical Technology
Hands-on showcasing of tech innovation projects from around AZ
3D Laser Cutter/Engraver
25. Lessons Learnt
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• Don’t expect people to move at the pace you do
• You need to understand that failure is part of the job
• Understand the question before trying to answer it with a
technology
• Balance the risk so you get buy in early on
• Go out and look across other industries
26. Summary
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• The lab needs to reflect the science being done today
• Scientists want to be able to collaborate everywhere
• Scientists want to be connected to the lab anywhere
• R&D need to invest in transformational technologies to
enable quicker, smarter business decisions and
maintain a competitive edge
27. Acknowledgements
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• FutureLab
– Dorian Zoumplis, Deniz Koteen, Jingya Yang, Corbin Clawson
• TIDE TechLabs
– Nick Brown, Steven Woodward, Marc Harrigan, Adrian Wong, Rob
Hernandez, Hari Radhakrishnan, Frank Lombardi, Chris Evans
• Microsoft
• Tulip
• Vital Enterprises
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