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Leading US research center, Duncan Neurological Research Institute, partners with Automata to automate studies of human brain cell models.
Pioneering automation project will enhance the speed and scale of brain disease research
9th September 2024, Houston, TX — The Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute (‘Duncan NRI’) at Texas Children’s Hospital, a world-class neuroscience research institute based in Houston, announces a groundbreaking advancement in its research capabilities, with the implementation of a state-of-the-art automation platform for human cellular model generation, maintenance, and characterization, in collaboration with Boston-based Automata Technologies (‘Automata’).
As a global leader in pediatric and adult neurological disease research, the Duncan NRI is dedicated to understanding and discovering novel therapies for autism, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, epilepsy, and many other brain disorders. The Institute recently partnered with Automata, a leading life science automation company, to introduce high-throughput automation for their human cell model research program. Human-derived stem cells enable the creation of powerful disease models tailored for individual patients and can therefore accelerate the discovery of personalized and precision therapies.
Developed by Automata, LINQ represents the next generation of lab automation technology, and its introduction marks a pivotal moment in Duncan NRI’s mission to advance the understanding of brain disorders and discover novel treatments that may help millions around the world.
The Automata LINQ platform will transform the Duncan NRI’s investigations of high-fidelity human disease models. This advanced system facilitates both the automation of large-scale cell culture along with powerful cell-based assays, allowing researchers to process more samples at a faster rate while maintaining exceptional data quality. The comprehensive system includes live microscopy and high-density microelectrode arrays, permitting automated, continuous monitoring of cell structure and function that can reveal how disease affects brain circuit connections and activity over time. Human neuron models derived from stem cells can also be deployed for more complex, three-dimensional “mini-brain” disease models.
Implementing LINQ will be a game-changer for our research. Automation will significantly enhance the pace and scope of our studies, while ensuring rigor and reproducibility, thereby accelerating our goal of elucidating disease mechanisms and discovering breakthrough therapies.”
Dr. Huda Zoghbi, founding Director of Duncan NRI, Distinguished Service Professor at Baylor College of Medicine, and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator.
With this new platform, Duncan NRI investigators can conduct more powerful, large-scale longitudinal studies of diverse neural stem cell models, which will allow us to probe the structure and function of diverse brain cells in healthy and disease states. We will be able to create ‘precision models’ from individuals affected by brain disorders that will help us better understand disease pathogenesis and develop more targeted effective therapies. Our partnership with Automata thus represents a leap forward in our commitment to making a tangible difference to patients and families impacted by neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders.”
Dr. Joshua Shulman, Co-director of Duncan NRI, Director of the Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, and Professor at Baylor College of Medicine.
Partnership with Automata
Automata, renowned for its expertise in life science automation, has collaborated closely with Duncan NRI to ensure the seamless integration of LINQ into the institute’s existing research framework.
We are proud to support Duncan NRI in their mission to enhance and accelerate research in neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders.
This partnership signifies our unwavering commitment to improving the lives of patients. By deploying the LINQ platform at Duncan’s NRI, scientists can focus on the science by easily leveraging AI-ready research data in their quest for precision therapies.”
Richard Grochmal, Head of US Growth at Automata
Duncan NRI media inquiries
Kelley Carville kfcarvil@texaschildrens.org
+1 (832) 824-3921Automata Technologies media enquiries
Rozi Morris pr@automata.tech
+44 (0)7740 859962 / +1 (202) 436-1844 -
Automata Technologies appoints advisory board of senior health and life sciences industry executives.
New board will include former NHS England Chairman and leaders in biopharma, healthcare and clinical research organisations.
London, UK — 25 April 2024, Automata Technologies, a leading automation company powering automation in the life sciences labs, has appointed its first advisory board, consisting of senior global healthcare and life sciences industry executives. The board’s role will be to advise Automata’s board and senior leadership team on commercialisation strategy and to provide key industry insight and guidance in each of their target subsectors.
This appointment comes after Automata Technologies raised $40M in investment in a funding round last October, led by Dimension Capital with participation from A.P. Moller Holding, the parent company of the A.P. Moller Group and owners of, amongst other businesses, laboratory testing group Unilabs. Healthcare investor and industry specialist Joe Stringer was also appointed Automata Executive Chairman and Director of Corporate Development (EMEA) in November, signalling the start of Automata’s expansion drive.
The advisory board will include Dr Sy Pretorius, former CMO at Parexel and now COO of US outsourced life sciences solutions provider Eversana; former NHS England Chair, Lord Prior of Brampton; and senior biotech leader Dr Annalisa Jenkins.
Board members span both private and public sectors and include senior leaders from pharmaceuticals, healthcare, regulatory affairs, scientific research, and international trade. It’s the ambition of this board to advise Automata on its journey to make automation technologies accessible to all laboratories seeking to develop and deliver life-changing treatments to patients faster.
Mostafa Elsayed, Co-Founder and CEO of Automata, commented:
Attracting this impressive group of senior advisors from across our key sectors of healthcare, biotech, pharma and outsourcing is a great validation for Automata and the potential that our technology can unlock for the industry.
These senior industry players will bring invaluable insight and advice as we continue to accelerate our growth and industry presence, ultimately helping to solve the challenges life sciences labs face today.
Enquiries
pr@automata.tech
Automata Technologies
Mostafa Elsayed, Chief Executive Office r+44 (0)20 3991 2253Rozi Morris +44 (0)7740 859962
The Advisory board
The Advisory board includes Lord David Prior, Dr Annalisa Jenkins, and Dr Sy Pretorius. Find out more about them here.
About Automata
Automata is a leading robotics and automation company, powering the laboratories of the future. Its automating technology enables new and improved processes, empowers scientists with transformed ways of working and delivers faster translation of results from ‘bench to bedside’.
Automata’s Lab Automation Platform meets labs where they are on their automation journey, and is the trusted partner to improving efficiencies and freeing scientists to work on new and innovative discoveries. It is trusted by customers including NHS Trusts and are supporting advancements across core testing labs, academic institutions, CDMOs, pharma and biotech companies.
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