Implementing enclosed sterile integrated robotic platforms to improve cell-based screening for drug discovery

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Biotechnology
• Drug Discovery

Background:

• Advanced cellular screening is crucial for early drug discovery.
• High-throughput screening requires robust and reliable automated systems.
• Complex in vitro models, such as 3D primary human hepatocytes, present unique screening challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present and discuss the impact of the Cellular Automated Screening Platform (CASPer) at GSK.
• To evaluate the benefits of implementing specific safety screening assays on CASPer.
• To assess improvements in throughput and data integrity using complex in vitro models.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of custom integrated robotics platforms within biosafety enclosures.
• Utilisation of the Cellular Automated Screening Platform (CASPer) for safety screening assays.
• Testing of complex in vitro 3D primary human hepatocyte models.

Main Results:

• Increased throughput for safety screening assays.
• Improved data integrity when testing 3D primary human hepatocyte models.
• Demonstrated utility of CASPer through example workflows and quality control solutions.

Conclusions:

• Custom integrated robotic systems like CASPer significantly augment cellular screening capabilities.
• CASPer offers advantages in throughput and data integrity for early drug discovery.
• Consideration of limitations is essential for the optimal application of such systems in cellular screening.