Automating Cell Culture and Cloning

The Problem: The typical approach to genomic editing and cell culture in the biotech world is to throw dozens - if not hundreds - of graduate students and lab techs at the process; i.e., pipettes and gloves.

The Solution: A Robotic workcell that can automate the majority of tasks in the cell culturing process, allowing operations to scale by 10, 100, and eventually 1000x.

The Roadmap and Vision
The first phase of the program involved the establishment of a Proof of Concept for the automation, including the fabrication of hardware and instrumentation in house.

The second phase moved the production to a fully enclosed and more compact workcell, with standardized components, roughly 60% in-house and 40% outsourced to technology partners, establishment of supply agreements for consumables and materials, and Beta/Early Access testing for key accounts.

The third phase would see the workcell sold as a standalone unit to be installed on-site for commercial and academic customers.

My Role in Project:
I served as the Director of Program Management and Senior Program Manager. I moved program from early research/feasibility phase to Product Beta.

Metrics of Success:
- Proof of Concept completed 3 successful test runs with high throughput biological outputs.
- Automated over 70% of laboratory process for cell culture and cloning
Production line for internal use in production
- Two prototypes manufactured for evaluation by partners in Beta testing