SPT Labtech Japan List of News Articles

On July 9, 2025, SPT Labtech announced a strategic partnership with the startup Semarion, originating from the Cavendish Laboratory at the University of Cambridge. This partnership will integrate SPT Labtech's firefly automated pipetting system with Semarion's SemaCyte microcarrier technology, enabling a flexible and scalable automated workflow for cell assays. This innovative collaboration will make it possible to miniaturize and automate adhesion cell assays, which have traditionally been challenging, and is expected to improve efficiency and reproducibility. It will also be adaptable to image analysis-based high-content assays such as cell painting. Semarion's CEO, Jeroen Verheyen, stated, "This partnership will create a flexible and miniaturized workflow that will significantly accelerate the drug discovery process." The two companies plan to work on developing joint protocols, generating validation data, and optimizing workflow strategies to provide researchers with more adaptable cell-based drug discovery support tools.

In every laboratory, the integrity of samples is extremely important. Our comPOUND automated sample management system has transformed the organization, storage, and retrieval methods of laboratory samples for about 25 years. By automating essential daily tasks, it provides researchers with an environment where they can focus on their core research with peace of mind. The longevity of this system is supported by our unique pneumatic (air-driven) technology. This technology minimizes the occurrence of issues in low-temperature environments caused by robots, ensuring stable operation in a consistent low-temperature setting. It reliably delivers samples to the necessary locations at the right times. This innovative system was first unveiled at the SBS conference held in Edinburgh in 1999 and has continuously evolved to meet the needs of research environments, maintaining its status as an industry standard.

SPT Labtech has officially been certified for the Illumina DNA Prep automation workflow using the firefly liquid handling platform and has been selected as an Illumina certified partner. The firefly features a compact design that combines high-precision pipetting with flexibility, achieving improved reproducibility and throughput. Its intuitive software and walkaway operation contribute to the efficiency of complex NGS workflows. This certification makes the implementation of Illumina DNA Prep automation using firefly more secure and easier. We will continue to support new applications through collaboration with Illumina.

3D cell culture has gained increasing attention in recent years as a method for studying cells in an environment that more accurately mimics the tissue structure in vivo. However, constructing 3D models requires scaffolds and matrices that support cell growth, and the dispensing of these materials poses challenges, leading to issues with reproducibility and efficiency. To address these challenges, PeptiMatrix Ltd. collaborated with SPT Labtech to evaluate the dispensing performance of PeptiMatrix hydrogel matrices using the dragonfly discovery liquid dispensing system. This study presents an integrated approach to achieving high-throughput, cost-effective, and reproducible 3D cell culture assays, and discusses how this can accelerate advancements in drug discovery and research.

Professor Matthew Gound of the University of Cambridge is advancing the development of chemical reactions that were previously impossible using traditional methods by utilizing high-throughput experimentation (HTE). HTE allows for the parallel execution of a large number of reactions, enabling the simultaneous examination of many variables such as catalysts, substrates, and additives. Using automated liquid dispensers like mosquito(R), precise reagent handling at the nanoliter scale is performed, accommodating reaction setups and analyses in 384 or 1536 well plates. The research subjects range widely, including photoredox catalysts, C–H activation, and nucleic acid (RNA, DNA) chemistry, allowing for efficient exploration even with small sample sizes. Additionally, analytical techniques such as UPLC-MS and high-throughput NMR enable the acquisition of quantitative and high-quality data. The flexible operation is also characterized by conducting reactions at the necessary scale using partially filled 1536 well plates. In the future, such high-quality data will be essential for predicting chemical reactions using AI and machine learning, highlighting the increasing importance of data science.

The Norwegian Sequencing Centre (NSC), located at Oslo University Hospital, has recognized the importance of lab automation in fields such as proteomics and genomics through practical experience. Recently, they have implemented liquid handling solutions, including our firefly system, significantly improving workflows to address daily operations and high-throughput challenges. These automations have enhanced work efficiency, optimized reagent usage, and reduced the risk of errors. In NSC's automation efforts, the following factors were key selection criteria: - Cost - Efficiency - Usability - Service support Considering various other conditions, our system was adopted as the most suitable for the automated workflow. It is believed that the importance of automation will continue to grow, becoming an essential element for core facilities. NSC's initiatives are expected to serve as a reference for other research institutions and as a model for maximizing the benefits of automation. For detailed news, please refer to the articles linked.

In the early stages of drug discovery, the processes of design, manufacturing, testing, and analysis (DMTA) require efficient sample management. Efficient sample storage and tracking, low-volume dispensing of assay-ready plates, workflows for analysis, and automation are necessary. However, accurate and efficient sample management demands significant costs and infrastructure, particularly requiring automation and IT support, which often leads small biotechnology companies to rely on external contract research organizations. In this webinar, the Artios Pharma team will showcase practical examples of an automated end-to-end workflow for sample management using Titian Sample Bank software and SPT Labtech's automation systems. * Up to 40% reduction in data entry cycle time * Reduction in operational costs * Ensuring supply and tracking of clinical samples, enabling rapid data reporting to facilitate decision-making How integrated automated workflows have streamlined the DMTA cycle How to implement an in-house compound management system as an alternative to outsourcing Benefits of automated workflows, such as improved data integrity and expedited decision-making

In this webinar, we will present successful cases of automating long-read whole genome library preparation using the PacBio SMRTbell Long Read Library Preparation Kit 3.0 (SPK3). This automated workflow, conducted on the SPT Labtech firefly platform, provides high-quality sequencing results while maintaining DNA integrity as an alternative to manual processes, creating long-read libraries from eight species, including humans, mice, and crickets. This research contributes to the "Darwin Tree of Life Project," which aims to generate reference genomes for approximately 70,000 eukaryotic species in the British Isles. Automation improves the efficiency and standardization of library preparation, reducing manual labor and errors. This is an opportunity to learn about maintaining DNA integrity and applying it to diverse organisms using the PacBio SMRTbell kit. Lesley Shirley and Ben Farr from the Wellcome Sanger Institute will participate in the Q&A session to answer your questions.

- Screening of tuberculosis treatment drugs using the latest automation technology - Identification of promising enzyme inhibitors through the evaluation of 6,000 compounds - Confirmation of the effectiveness of automation systems in streamlining the drug discovery process - Contribution to the development of new treatment methods for drug-resistant tuberculosis In research aimed at the novel development of tuberculosis treatment drugs, a collaborative study was conducted by SPT Labtech, Automata, GSK, and the Francis Crick Institute. Utilizing the latest automation technology, large-scale screening targeting key metabolic pathways of the tuberculosis bacterium was carried out. In particular, the efficacy, selectivity, and microbiological effectiveness of 6,000 compounds were evaluated. This initiative accelerated the identification of promising enzyme inhibitors and established a foundation for further drug discovery chemistry research. Additionally, important insights were gained regarding the potential integration of robotic platforms in high-throughput drug discovery through improvements in the automated workflow. This research represents a significant step in the development of new treatment methods in response to the increasing challenge of drug-resistant tuberculosis.

In this webinar, hear how a collaboration between SPT Labtech, Automata, GSK, and researchers at the Francis Crick Institute, employed cutting-edge automation tools, including the dragonfly(R) discovery liquid handling system by SPT Labtech and Automata’s LINQ platform, to conduct a high-throughput enzymatic screen targeting a vulnerable pathway in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb).