Woburn– HighRes Biosolutions has entered into a three year agreement with AstraZeneca for the development and deployment of several new modular automated screening systems. These ground breaking systems leverage next generation robotics technology originally developed for the European Space Agency, and bring it to screening and compound management operations. Light weight, yet powerful, the core robotics at the heart of these systems can operate without the need for protective shielding and the extensive safety measures currently required for traditional laboratory automation systems. This innovative new design allows much more interaction between automation system and user, while retaining the modularity and system flexibility that have been the hallmarks of HighRes Biosolutions.
AstraZeneca will be the first user of this exciting new technology, and plans to deploy a number of systems at the AstraZeneca MRC UK Centre for Lead Discovery at the company’s new global R&D center on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus in Cambridge, UK. These systems will be used in conjunction with other cutting edge liquid dispensing and data management technologies for a variety of screening assays and compound management applications. The goal of the partnership is to use the next generation automation systems to enable the screening of ~2 million chemical structures per drug target.
Lou Guarracina, President of HighRes Biosolutions declared “The development of new, more user interactive robotic screening platforms is a big step forward in laboratory automation. These systems incorporate the very latest in robotic design and bring an entirely new degree of user interaction, system capabilities and laboratory safety to screening and compound management operations. Building upon our leading MicroStar modularity concept for automation, the deployment of these systems is a true advance in automated screening technology.”
Steve Rees, Vice President, Screening Sciences & Sample Management, Discovery Sciences, AstraZeneca, added: “Working together with leading technology providers, we are creating cutting-edge capabilities for compound management and screening. This partnership will deliver new ways of working, help reduce costs and transform our ability to identify new molecules that could become medicines of the future.”
About HighRes Biosolutions
HighRes Biosolutions is a global leader for laboratory automation solutions. The company designs and builds innovative laboratory automation systems, dynamic scheduling software, and lab automation instruments that accelerate and streamline discovery. HighRes offers highly flexible, modular solutions that provide its clients with the ability to scale and reconfigure their automation equipment as their assays or technology changes. For more information, please visit highresbio.com.