Some argue that the quantum step to 100,000 points per day will only be realized with new assay technologies and emerging higher density plate formats. This talk will discuss an automated approach which uses robust production validated technology and allows current generation of assays to be run at UHTS rates - today, with the flexibility to be easily reconfigured to different assay formats, as needs change. Zymark has developed such a solution called Allegro?/font> , and is currently under contract with 4 collaborators. Some of the results of the first beta test with RW Johnson Pharmaceutical Research Institute will be discussed. This includes methods validation data on different assay formats, as well as preliminary evaluation of the technology.

Presentation:  ORIGEN Technology for performing High-Throughput compound screening assays
Charles Grimshaw, Ph.D.
IGEN Corporation

IGEN possesses a proprietary technology which utilizes electrochemiluminescent detection to analyze levels of analytes, enzymatic activities, binding events, nucleic acids, etc.. The technology delivers highly sensitive and precise answers in a homogeneous format, allowing labs to decrease the amount of rare reagents and labor required to discover hits in target assays.

Presentation:  Industry Strategic Benefits and Success Factors in Automation in Pharmaceutical Research
Michelle Palmer
Director, Assay Developmet Services
Mark T. Roskey, Ph.D.
Director, Pharmaceutical Screening Systems
Perkin-Elmer Tropix Inc.

Presentation:  Research Automation: An Integrated Approach to Proprietary and Commercial Substance Supply, Preparation, Tracking, and Request Fulfillment Using Novel Information Management Technology
David A. Kniaz
Project Director
EMAX Solution Partners

Companies that invest in leading combinatorial chemistry and high throughput screening technologies need a way to manage the large volumes of proprietary and commercial substance data created through these automated processes. Research and development organizations can accelerate their drug discovery process and control costs through an integrated substance management solution.

This presentation will discuss how an integrated substance management solution can bring the following basic elements of logistics management into place:

            *     reagent ordering and supply
            *     stockroom management
            *     container tracking
            *     proprietary compound inventory management
            *     micro-titer plate preparation and tracking

Presentation:  An Open, Modular Software Architecture for Laboratory Automation
Carl Murray
Software Development Manager
Beckman / Sagian

Beckman Coulter's new operating environment for laboratory automation is a robot-independent, application-independent architecture that allows applications to be built from reusable, modular components. Each function, such as device control, data logging, labware transportation, or execution control, is managed by an independent module written industry-standard programming tools. A messaging architecture allows these modules to work together, and permits easy integration of any application that supports ActiveX components, such as Microsoft Excel. Data management is standardized, and data can be manipulated by several modules simultaneously. New modules can be introduced without side effects, and old modules can be updated without compromising the upgrade path of the system. An example of a system built with this architecture, Beckman's Core Systems, is used to illustrate the concepts.

Poster:  Software methodology based on 3D molecular information
Siram N. V. Rao

• Molecular Diversity Analysis based comparison of compound libraries.
• 3D-QSAR of millions of compounds
• HTS data analysis to identify false negatives and false positives

Posters:  Automated Labelling and Weighing Systems

High Throughput Robotic Multistep Sample Preparation Procedure for the
Determination of Sodium Oxalate in Bauxite by Gas Chromatography

Wellplate Replication in High Throughput Screening
Andrew Whitwell
Labman Automation Ltd

For more information contact:

From the North or South: Take the New Jersey Turnpike to Exit 8A - Exit the left ramp for Jamesburg (Route 32 East) - Continue straight for 1 1/4 miles through traffic light - Forsgate Country Club is on your left - Use the Clubhouse Entrance (second left).

From Princeton: Route 1 to Scudders Mill Road East - Continue on Scudders Mill Road and make a left at the 5th traffic light onto Dey Road - Continue on Dey Road to the end  - Make a left  - At 2nd traffic light (Route 32) make a right - Continue straight for 1 1/4 miles through traffic light - Forsgate Country Club is on your left - Use the Clubhouse entrance (second left).

For an interactive map:

Group Update:  Paul Skerker of Leukosite and Donna Norton of Pharmalytic won rosewood LRIG pen sets in the business card drawing.   A business card drawing will be held at the June meeting.

Visit The Laboratory Robotics Interest Group homepage at https://www.lab-robotics.org