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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 modalities that engage these targets. There will be an emphasis on recent case studies of cutting-edge assay, predictive, and perturbation approaches that have increased the success rates of target discovery and lead identification. The track will also highlight emerging approaches 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.

Dive into the latest breakthroughs in automation for chemical and biological research, from high-throughput screening to streamlining lab processes, and enhanced data flow and quality. We’ll explore how cutting-edge tools, technologies, and integration approaches are reshaping experimental workflows, with a spotlight on engineering and applications that push the boundaries of automation in labs. It's all about making research faster, smarter, and more impactful.

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 in vitro models including spheroids, organoids, and microphysiological systems. The track will also include cellular therapeutics and cell technologies to support biologics and gene therapy approaches.

Artificial intelligence and machine learning are increasingly integral to accelerating life science R&D, moving rapidly from specialized tools to core operational components. Making meaningful progress now demands innovation across the entire spectrum; from refining predictive algorithms to deploying them robustly at scale and even automating the experimental cycle itself. This track brings together technical experts tackling the critical frontiers required to ground computational power in biological reality and laboratory practice. We will delve into critical technical frontiers encompassing the development and validation of predictive biological models, the engineering challenges of deploying these tools reliably at scale, and the emerging integration of AI within automated laboratory experiments. Join fellow scientists and engineers for technically-grounded discussions on methodologies, practical implementations, validation strategies, and hard-won lessons across these vital areas. This track provides a forum to share progress and address the interconnected challenges of building, scaling, and deploying the next generation of truly impactful AI in the life sciences.

Micro- and nanotechnologies continue to transform high-throughput biology and medicine, offering unprecedented control over physical and chemical environments at the smallest scales. By leveraging the unique properties of materials and devices at the micro and nanoscale, researchers are digitizing biology and accelerating breakthroughs in life sciences, diagnostics, and cellular engineering. This track will showcase recent advances in fundamental understanding of micro- and nanofluidic systems that are poised to redefine what’s possible in diagnostics and lab automation, highlight emerging wearable technologies that promise to revolutionize real-time diagnostics and therapeutic delivery, and explore the cutting-edge of droplet-based fluidic miniaturized systems as applied to cell programming, genome engineering, and phenotypic screening to unlock new frontiers enabling translation.

Advances in Drug Discovery Technologies and 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 spotlight emerging therapeutic strategies including targeted protein degradation, molecular glues, nucleotide and protein/peptide therapeutics, and other novel therapeutic approaches for difficult targets, as well as new platform technologies that are utilized to enable New Modality-based drug discovery and delivery.

Explore cutting-edge technologies transforming disease detection and patient care in this dynamic track. From critical care screening innovations to breakthroughs in next-generation sequencing, discover how diagnostic applications are revolutionizing clinical practice. Leading experts will demonstrate how AI and machine learning are enhancing screening precision, accelerating biomarker analysis, and significantly improving patient outcomes. Join us at the intersection of technology and clinical applications shaping the future of healthcare.

In today's rapidly evolving scientific landscape, new methodologies and technologies are emerging every day. Despite these advances, the foundational principles of sample management remain the same and continue to provide a reliable framework for research. Sample managers are therefore challenged to integrate innovative techniques into their traditional practices without compromising data integrity. By leveraging cutting-edge tools, they can enhance the efficiency of sample handling.