- Laboratory automation
Laboratory automation is a multi-disciplinary strategy to
research , develop, optimize and capitalize ontechnologies in thelaboratory that enable new and improved processes. Laboratory automation professionals areacademic , commercial andgovernment researchers,scientists andengineers who conductresearch and develop new technologies to increaseproductivity , elevate experimental data quality, reduce lab process cycle times, or enableexperimentation that otherwise would be impossible.The most widely known application of laboratory automation technology is
laboratory robotics . More generally, the field of laboratory automation comprises many different automated laboratory instruments, devices, softwarealgorithms , and methodologies used to enable, expedite and increase theefficiency andeffectiveness of scientific research in laboratories.The application of technology in today's laboratories is required to achieve timely progress and remain competitive. Laboratories devoted to activities such as
high-throughput screening ,combinatorial chemistry , automated clinical and analytical testing, diagnostics, large scale biorepositories, and many others, would not exist without advancements in laboratory automation.Some universities offer entire programs that focus on lab technologies. For example, [http://www.iupui.edu Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis] offers a graduate program devoted to Laboratory Informatics. Also, the [http://www.kgi.edu/ Keck Graduate Institute] in
California offers a graduate degree with an emphasis on development of assays, instrumentation and data analysis tools required for clinical diagnostics,high-throughput screening ,genotyping ,microarray technologies,proteomics ,imaging and other applications.In 2004, the [http://www.nih.gov/ National Institutes of Health] (NIH) and more than 300 nationally recognized leaders in academia, industry, government, and the public completed the [http://nihroadmap.nih.gov/ NIH Roadmap] to accelerate medical discovery to improve health. The [http://nihroadmap.nih.gov/ NIH Roadmap] clearly identifies technology development as a mission critical factor in the Molecular Libraries and Imaging Implementation Group (see the first theme - New Pathways to Discovery - at http://nihroadmap.nih.gov).
External links
* [http://lab-robotics.org Laboratory Robotics Interest Group web site]
* [http://labautomation.org Association for Lab Automation web site]
* [http://nihroadmap.nih.gov/ NIH Roadmap for Medical Research]
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