Advancing automation in high-throughput screening: Modular unguarded systems enable adaptable drug discovery

• Published in: Drug discovery today Vol. 27; no. 8; pp. 2051 - 2056
• Main Authors: Hansel, Catherine S., Plant, Darren L., Holdgate, Geoffrey A., Collier, Matthew J., Plant, Helen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01-08-2022
• Subjects: Adaptability; Automation; Collaborative robotics; Drug discovery; Flexibility; Modular systems; Collaborative robotics; Automation; Drug discovery; Flexibility; Modular systems; Adaptability
• ISSN: 1359-6446; 1878-5832
• DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2022.03.010

•Automation is critical in delivering adaptable, robust and reproducible high-throughput screens.•Innovative design solutions have delivered increased flexibility.•Enhanced integration of hardware and software allows continuous improvement.•Future developments will embrace artificial intelligence to enhance the efficiency of high-throughput screening.
Challenged by ageing infrastructure and increasingly demanding screening cascades, AstraZeneca High Throughput Screening department has developed advanced automation systems that can support both current needs and future strategies in drug discovery. Through collaboration with HighRes Biosolutions and other third-party vendors, highly versatile automated modular platforms have been designed. Safety features such as collaborative robots allow enhanced system accessibility, and adaptive scheduling software has improved protocol design and system recovery. These innovations have led to significant improvements in system flexibility while maintaining screening productivity.