January 25-29, 2025
San Diego Convention Center
San Diego, CA, USA
Reserve your spot in San Diego! Register now for your front row seat to the latest lab automation and life sciences technology innovations.
January 25-29, 2025
San Diego Convention Center
San Diego, CA, USA
Reserve your spot in San Diego! Register now for your front row seat to the latest lab automation and life sciences technology innovations.
This SLAS2025 scientific program will include scientific talks spanning eight educational tracks within life sciences, technology and laboratory automation. Sessions will build off of the innovative, life-changing and sometimes surprising discoveries from over the last year. Watch this section for complete details on 2025 keynote speakers, educational tracks, the scientific podium program and short course information.
Special thanks to the SLAS2025 Program Chairs: Herve Tiriac, Ph.D. (University of California San Diego) and Meiye Wu, Ph.D. (10x Genomics).
We’re pleased to bring two inspiring keynotes to San Diego.
Podium presentations at SLAS2025 are organized into eight educational tracks. Track and session titles and descriptions and names of track chairs and session chairs follow below.
The Scientific Program Committee selects speakers based on the innovation, relevance and applicability of research. If your proposed topic does not squarely fit into the focus of one of these tracks, please submit it for committee consideration regardless. The committee members use their judgment and experience to select presentations that best address the interests and priorities of today’s life sciences discovery and technology community.
Track Chairs: Jennifer Smith, Ph.D. (Harvard Medical School) and Scott Martin, Ph.D. (Genentech)
This track will focus on recent innovations across the assay development and screening discipline, including the adoption of novel technologies and the implementation of effective, innovative screening campaigns and hit triage strategies. Attendees will learn about the development of robust, physiologically relevant biochemical, biophysical and cellular assays that are crucial for identifying novel biology, targets, and active ligands that engage their targets directly. There will be an emphasis on recent case studies where cutting-edge assay and perturbation approaches have increased the success rates of screening for target discovery and lead identification campaigns. Additional attention will be paid to emerging screening efforts that have been coupled with next-generation therapeutic modalities and novel mechanisms of action to broaden the scope of target classes that can be drugged. Taken together, the overall track will highlight advances in the fields of assay development and screening that enhance efforts to identify, validate and characterize novel targets and potential lead molecules.
Session 1: The Power of Chemical Biology - Virtual Screens Through Wet Lab Validation
Session Chair: Brian Shoichet, Ph.D. (University of California San Francisco
Advances in virtual screening strategies enable billions of compounds to be screened simultaneously against targets of interest, allowing scientists to focus on hundreds or thousands of compounds for in vitro experiments. This session will highlight the power of in silico screening approaches and include specific examples of how virtual screening results are translated into focused high throughput screening assays.
Session 2: Screening with High-content Genomic Assays for Deep Biological Insights and Early Drug Discovery
Session Chair: Scott Martin, Ph.D. (Genentech)
This session will showcase cutting edge approaches that couple perturbation screens with high content genomic assays, such as single cell transcriptomics, to map biological systems and advance target and drug discovery.
Session 3: Biochemical and Biophysical Assays
Session Chair: Eric Fischer, Ph.D. (Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School)
Biochemical and biophysical assays are fundamental methods that are used widely during drug discovery. Attendees of this session will learn how these screening strategies can be effectively employed to identify and optimize active leads and to demonstrate target engagement using purified proteins to build confidence in understanding the affinity, efficacy and mechanism of action of small molecules.
Session 4: Advancing Discovery and Drug Development Through Complex in Vitro Models and Translational Cellular Assays
Session Chair: Kristen Brennand, Ph.D. (Yale University)
There have been many recent advances in the in vitro modeling of complex cellular systems, enabling the development of more therapeutically relevant high throughput assays. This session will highlight some key advances in complex in vitro models along with approaches to leverage them for discovery and drug development.
Track Chairs: Paul Anderson, M.S. (Neurocrine) and Carleen Klumpp-Thomas, M.S. (NIH/NCATS)
This track focuses on the innovative use of biological or chemistry applications, tools, technologies, and techniques as they pertain to automated high throughput screening, the advancement of laboratory processes or improvement of the quality, impact and flow of experimental laboratory data. Emphasis is placed on advancements in chemically and biologically relevant technologies using engineering, analytical, informatics, and application to cutting edge automation-assisted research.
Session 1: AI-Enabled Chemistry: Automating Iterative Discovery and Synthesis
Session Chair: Richard Robinson, Ph.D. (Novartis)
This session will feature presentations on advances being made in the development and application of automation technologies within the scope of facilitating or advancing the productivity in chemical synthesis, the screening of chemical reactions and automating the DMTA cycle.
Session 2: Advancements in Sample Management Technologies
Session Chair: Nady Mettias (Takeda)
Explore the forefront of sample management technology, delving into the latest innovations in software, labware, instruments, and beyond. Uncover how these advancements revolutionize workflows, enhance efficiency, and drive progress across diverse scientific fields.
Session 3: Streamlining Lab Operations: Innovations in Automated Transport for Labware
Session Chair: Carleen Klumpp-Thomas, M.S. (NCATS)
Embark on a journey exploring innovations in automated transport for scientific labware utilizing mobile robotics and beyond. Navigate how cutting-edge technologies optimize efficiency, minimize manual intervention, and elevate productivity in laboratory settings, revolutionizing the way we conduct research and experiments.
Session 4: Transforming Lab Processes: Cutting-Edge Advancements in Automation
Session Chair: Kristen Tran, M.S. (Ginkgo Bioworks)
Unlock the potential of automation in laboratory processes with our exploration of cutting-edge advancements. Dive into how these innovations redefine efficiency, precision, and scalability, reshaping the landscape of scientific discovery. Join us and witness the evolution of lab operations firsthand.
Track Chairs: Madhu Nag, Ph.D. (Insphero) and David Walsh, Ph.D. (MIT Lincoln Laboratory)
Attendees will learn from industry and academic leaders about novel cellular technologies and their application in the treatment of disease, as well as the generation of disease-relevant models for drug discovery and pre-clinical development. This track will highlight in vitro models used for illuminating functional genomics and pharmacology, ADME or toxicity analyses. The technologies covered will include the generation and use of complex co-cultures, organoids, organ-on-chips, and microphysiologic models. The track will also include cellular therapeutics and cell technologies to support biologics and gene therapy approaches.
Session 1: Advancing Complex In Vitro Models for Regulatory Applications
Session Chair: Graham Marsh, Ph.D. (C-Path)
Complex In Vitro Models (CIVMs) have entered regulatory space following new FDA modernization legislation. This session covers both technology development of CIVMs to support regulatory filings as well as needs/experiences of those directly involved in these processes.
Session 2: Physiologically Relevant Models for Drug Safety
Session Chair: Oivin Guicherit, Ph.D. (Broad Institute)
Advances in Complex In Vitro Models (CIVMs) for drug safety studies (as opposed to efficacy) offer a promising supplement/alternative to traditional preclinical models for studying drug pharmacodyamics and pharmacokinetics behavior as well as establish their pharmacologic, safety, and toxicity profile.
Session 3: Clinical Translation of Complex In Vitro Models
Session Chair: Dan Tagle (NIH)
Integration of sensors and novel endpoints enabled by CIVMs have the potential to provide more predictive insights into clinical outcomes of disease.
Track Chairs: Yohann Potier, Ph.D. (Tessera Therapeutics) and Yusuf Roohani (Stanford University)
The integration of data science and AI in life sciences has rapidly accelerated in recent years. What was once a speculative topic has now become a focal point for organizations of all sizes, from established industry leaders to innovative startups. The conversation has shifted from theoretical exploration to practical implementation, creating a landscape where expertise is paramount. This track aims to delve into three key aspects: Firstly, the imperative for developing tailored ML models that address specific challenges within life sciences; secondly, the crucial role of engineering and real-world applications in driving impactful outcomes; and thirdly, the importance of establishing a feedback loop between laboratory practices, automation technologies, and AI to facilitate rapid improvements. Through insightful discussions and shared experiences, we aim to showcase successful strategies, lessons learned, and visionary ideas that contribute to the advancement of our field.
Track Chairs: Julea Vlassakis, Ph.D. (Rice University) and Sammy Datwani, Ph.D. (Systemic Bio)
Micro- and nano-technologies have enabled numerous advances in high-throughput biology and medicine. Miniaturized device length scales and materials can leverage unique physical properties at the micro and nanoscale to digitize biology and key processes to advance life sciences, molecular diagnostics and cell engineering. This track will highlight innovation in fabrication of microphysiological systems, the application of artificial intelligence to high-throughput micro and nanoscale systems, and the cutting-edge of fluidic handling at the smallest scales for use in lab screening to advance human health.
Track Chairs: Anastasia Velentza, Ph.D., (AVeNew Insights LLC) and Sangram Parelkar, Ph.D., (Dewpoint Therapeutics)
Advances in drug discovery technologies as well as the need to expand the target space in diseases with unmet medical need have created opportunities to pursue difficult targets with New Modalities. This session will discuss emerging therapeutic strategies leveraging RNA therapeutics, biologics and bioconjugates, peptides and macrocycles, bioactive organelles and other novel targeting approaches as well as new platform technologies that are utilized to enable new modality-based drug discovery.
Track Chairs: Joe De Rutte, Ph.D. (Partillion) and Kamran Honarnejad, Ph.D. (Evotec)
Omics technologies have become an integral part of science and medicine, from enabling deeper understanding of biological functions to accelerating the development of new therapeutics. In this track we will highlight recent technology advancements in expanding multiomic readouts to functional profiling, the application of omics in cell and biologic therapeutics, and new techniques for combining molecular omics information with spatial localization within cells and tissues. We will also explore the integration of CRISPR and other functional genomics screening technologies with high-dimensional and multiomics readouts for target identification and validation at high resolution and throughput.
Track Chairs: Kim Dorans, B.S. (VedaBio) and Kalyani Gampa, M.S. (Novartis)
Explore emerging technologies, real-world applications, and future prospects in this dynamic track focusing on screening applications of biomarker diagnostics. Understand how robust assay development processes are increasing the fidelity of such diagnostic screens. Discover how these screening diagnostics are enhancing hospital care and biomarker analyses are transforming disease diagnosis. Leading experts will also discuss how advances in the field, such as the use of AI and Machine learning can streamline care and improve patient outcomes.
The SLAS2025 Short Course Program provides in-depth instruction on topics, issues and techniques related to the laboratory science and technology community. This year's short courses will be announced later in the year. Short Courses run from January 25-26, 2025.
Short Course registration is now open!
Saturday, January 25
Sunday, Jaunary 26