1. An Introduction to SLAS and
Laboratory Technology Trends
Steven Hamilton, Ph.D.
SLAS Director of Education
2. Society for Laboratory Automation
and Screening
An international community of more than 10,000
individual scientists, engineers, researchers &
technologists
• Provides forums for education and information exchange to
encourage study and advance laboratory science and
technology
• Academic, government and commercial laboratories.
• Drug discovery, agrochemical, biotechnology, chemical, clinical
diagnostic, consumer product, energy, food, forensic, security
and other industries.
5. SLAS member surveys
Why do you use laboratory automation?
Improve safety
2.4
in the laboratory
Improve working conditions
2.8
in the laboratory
Reduce operating cost 3.5
Improve data quality 3.8
Increase productivity 4.7
1 2 3 4 5
(Low) Rating (High)
2006 slas survey – full data in LabAutopedia
8. Lab Automation in Pharma
What have we learned?
• The goal is Enterprise Optimization.
• Automation can enable good science, not create it.
• No single technology or discipline holds the key.
• The impact of technology on the balance and flow
of the entire R&D process must be understood,
planned and managed.
Chemistry Proteomics
Horsepower alone does not
create good science
Bio-chemistry Pharma Genomics
Enterprise
Pharmacology Molecular
Biology
Biology
The winning companies effectively integrate technology with science using both in-
house resources and external partnerships. - Boston Consulting Group Report
9. How Do We Automate Science?
We find that science automation is highly customized
54% 46%
26% 53% 47%
2003
51% 49%
2006
Lab Automation Sources 1998
Off The Shelf
Customized
10. How Do We Automate Science?
Less customization now done in-house
9%
24% 46%
20%
11%
26% 47%
15% 2003
4%
25%
49%
22%
2006
Lab Automation Sources 1998
Off The Shelf
Developed In-House
Vendor Modified Customized Solutions
3 rd Party Integrator
11. How Do We Automate Science?
Yet companies still dedicate resources to lab automation
No:25%
Yes: 75%
No:36% Yes:64%
2006 1998
Companies with internal lab automation resources
12. How Do We Automate Science?
Yet companies still dedicate resources to lab automation.
If more work is being outsourced, why?
No:25%
Yes: 75%
No:36% Yes:64%
2006 1998
• Outsourced projects still require internal expertise, but different focus
• Lab Automation has spread more widely across companies
• Requires more on-going support
13. Success of lab automation?
My organizations senior management feels it’s investment in
laboratory automation has:
Not delivered the
expected result
1%
56%
43% Succeeded in
Produced delivering the
mixed results expected result
14. Success of lab automation?
My organizations senior management feels it’s investment in
laboratory automation has:
Not delivered the
expected result
1%
39% 62% 56%
43% had internal had internal Succeeded in
Produced automation automation delivering the
mixed results resources resources expected result
15. The Laboratory Automation Expert?
Key to success
• Few formal degree programs Software Engineer
provide this interdisciplinary
background
• Most have formal degrees in
Electrical
Chemistry, Biology, Engineering or Scientist Engineer
Computer Science
• Important skills Mechanical
– Understanding of relevant areas of Project
Engineer
Manager
science
– Programming
– Engineering Fluidics
– Project management Expert
– Leadership, business
16. Risk-Taking with Technology?
Internal resources matter
With Without
Technology Entry Point internal internal
resources resources
Bleeding edge: technology showing high potential, but
7% 5%
yet to demonstrate value or practicality.
Leading edge: technology proven in marketplace but
67% 44%
few knowledgeable personnel to implement or support it.
State of the Art: when everyone agrees that a
26% 51%
particular technology is the right solution.
17. What Limits our use of Lab
Automation Today?
Time to validate process on automation 3.3
Time to develop assays/procedures 3.3
Time to reconfigure for new process 3
Up and downstream infrastructure 2.8
Data evaluation/computation 2.7
Data management 2.7
Vendor support 2.6
Ease of operating automation 2.5
Forced downtime (broken) 2.5
Automation System Throughput 2.3
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5
Limiting Factors: 1=Low; 5=High
18. How to Succeed with Laboratory
Automation?
Navigate the delicate waters of change by joining SLAS and by
employing SLAS members!
