An Introduction to SLAS and Laboratory Technology Trends

Steven Hamilton, Ph.D.SLAS Director of Education

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.

SLAS Conferences & Symposia

Distance Learning

• Virtual Courses• LabAutopedia Wiki• LabMan Blog/Podcast• Standards• Journals on Demand• Reference Material

SLAS Scientific Journals

SLAS member surveys

1 2 3 4 5

4.7Increase productivity

3.8Improve data quality

3.5Reduce operating cost

2.4Improve safety

in the laboratory

Why do you use laboratory automation?

2.8Improve working conditions

in the laboratory

(Low) (High)Rating

2006 slas survey – full data in LabAutopedia

Technology Driven Industries

Organization AgePro

duct

ivity

, C

ompe

titiv

enes

s

Organizational Lifecycle

Technology Driven Industries

Organization AgePro

duct

ivity

, C

ompe

titiv

enes

s

Organizational Lifecycle

Lab Automation in PharmaWhat 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.

Horsepower alone does not create good science

The winning companies effectively integrate technology with science using both in-house resources and external partnerships. - Boston Consulting Group Report

PharmacologyPharmacology

Biology

ProteomicsChemistry

GenomicsPharmaEnterprise

Bio-chemistry

MolecularBiology

How Do We Automate Science?

2006

1998

2003

Lab Automation Sources

Customized

26%53% 47%

46%54%

49%51%

Off The Shelf

We find that science automation is highly customized

How Do We Automate Science?

Less customization now done in-house

3rd Party Integrator

Off The Shelf

2006

47%

1998

2003

11%

Lab Automation Sources

Vendor Modified

26%

Developed In-House

15%

Customized Solutions

49%4%

25%22%

46%24%20%

9%

How Do We Automate Science?

Yet companies still dedicate resources to lab automation

No:36%

No:25%Yes: 75%

Yes:64%

2006 1998

Companies with internal lab automation resources

How Do We Automate Science?

Yet companies still dedicate resources to lab automation.If more work is being outsourced, why?

No:36%

No:25%Yes: 75%

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

Success of lab automation?

My organizations senior management feels it’s investment in laboratory automation has:

56% Succeeded in delivering the expected result

56% Succeeded in delivering the expected result

43% Produced

mixed results

43% Produced

mixed results

Not delivered the expected result

1%

Success of lab automation?

My organizations senior management feels it’s investment in laboratory automation has:

56% Succeeded in delivering the expected result

56% Succeeded in delivering the expected result

43% Produced

mixed results

43% Produced

mixed results

Not delivered the expected result

1%

62% had internalautomation resources

62% had internalautomation resources

39% had internalautomation resources

39% had internalautomation resources

The Laboratory Automation Expert?

Key to success

• Few formal degree programs provide this interdisciplinary background

• Most have formal degrees in Chemistry, Biology, Engineering or Computer Science

• Important skills– Understanding of relevant areas of

science– Programming– Engineering– Project management– Leadership, business

Scientist

MechanicalEngineer

Software Engineer

FluidicsExpert

ElectricalEngineer

ProjectManager

Risk-Taking with Technology?

Internal resources matter

Technology Entry PointWith

internal resources

Without internal

resources

Bleeding edge: technology showing high potential, but yet to demonstrate value or practicality.

7% 5%

Leading edge: technology proven in marketplace but few knowledgeable personnel to implement or support it.

67% 44%

State of the Art: when everyone agrees that a particular technology is the right solution.

26% 51%

Technology Entry PointWith

internal resources

Without internal

resources

Bleeding edge: technology showing high potential, but yet to demonstrate value or practicality.

7% 5%

Leading edge: technology proven in marketplace but few knowledgeable personnel to implement or support it.

67% 44%

State of the Art: when everyone agrees that a particular technology is the right solution.

26% 51%

Technology Entry PointWith

internal resources

Without internal

resources

Bleeding edge: technology showing high potential, but yet to demonstrate value or practicality.

7% 5%

Leading edge: technology proven in marketplace but few knowledgeable personnel to implement or support it.

67% 44%

State of the Art: when everyone agrees that a particular technology is the right solution.

26% 51%

What Limits our use of Lab Automation Today?

2.3

2.5

2.5

2.6

2.7

2.7

2.8

3

3.3

3.3

0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5

Automation System Throughput

Forced downtime (broken)

Ease of operating automation

Vendor support

Data management

Data evaluation/computation

Up and downstream infrastructure

Time to reconfigure for new process

Time to develop assays/procedures

Time to validate process on automation

Limiting Factors: 1=Low; 5=High

2.3

2.5

2.5

2.6

2.7

2.7

2.8

3

3.3

3.3

0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5

Automation System Throughput

Forced downtime (broken)

Ease of operating automation

Vendor support

Data management

Data evaluation/computation

Up and downstream infrastructure

Time to reconfigure for new process

Time to develop assays/procedures

Time to validate process on automation

Limiting Factors: 1=Low; 5=High

2.3

2.5

2.5

2.6

2.7

2.7

2.8

3

3.3

3.3

0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5

Automation System Throughput

Forced downtime (broken)

Ease of operating automation

Vendor support

Data management

Data evaluation/computation

Up and downstream infrastructure

Time to reconfigure for new process

Time to develop assays/procedures

Time to validate process on automation

Limiting Factors: 1=Low; 5=High

Requires internal

automation /science

resources

No longer the

limiting factors

How to Succeed with Laboratory Automation?

Navigate the delicate waters of change by joining SLAS and by employing SLAS members!