Abstract: The direct integration of a liquid handler to compound store can be a powerful tool to enable drug discovery processes by creating highly automated workflows with various applications. At Neurocrine we have implemented this technology by building work cells containing Hamilton liquid handlers that exchange labware directly with the Hamilton Storage Verso. These work cells are fitted with peripheral devices as needed by the workflow, including decappers to allow the pipettor access to the samples.
This integration has evolved over the past 10 years at Neurocrine. Our first Verso was integrated in-house directly with our LIMS for request of samples, reagents, and compound plates by our scientists. Compound plates can be accommodated in whatever valid format and concentration, and the orders are quickly fulfilled via a worklist provided to the work cell. These work cells also continuously execute workflows to monitor and maintain our library, such as measurement of the sample volumes and integrated LC-MS to track purity and concentration over time.
Automated library synthesis was developed several years back using this same liquid handler/store paradigm, but functionality has come a long way as it relates to our chemistry approach. We developed our own software called Automated Chemistry Enumeration to enable high throughput combinatorial chemistry for exploration of a broad chemical space and drive hit expansion in SAR campaigns.
With fleet management in mind, we have also developed a browser-based software called SERVO (Scientific Equipment and Robotics Virtual Organizer) to monitor and control our work cells. SERVO uses a calendar to schedule workflows and help manage the workload. It can launch and track work cell activities, alert users for errors and allow direct intervention, display video surveillance, provide remote access to the work cells, and track instrument maintenance. This enables us to keep a watchful eye over all of our work cells from a single place, and we can use it to organize and fulfill the work queue.
This presentation will highlight some ways in which we have expanded upon the integration of liquid handler to compound store to enable more robust sample tracking, synthesis workflows, and control software.