In clinical research, the demands on laboratory teams have never been higher. Studies are larger, sample volumes are less available, and sponsors expect rapid, available and traceable data that can withstand regulatory scrutiny. Manual workflows simply cannot keep pace with that reality. Automation isn’t about replacing scientists — it’s about giving them the tools to work at the speed and precision modern research requires.
At hVIVO, we’ve spent the past several years modernising our laboratory infrastructure to meet that challenge. The shift has been transformative in creating an innovative and state of art facility for molecular biology. New automated systems are allowing us to process more samples, with greater consistency and reproducibility, at lower cost, in a fraction of the time — and they’re opening the door to scientific capabilities that were previously out of reach. Automation of molecular laboratories enhances efficiency, high-throughput capacity and diagnostic accuracy by replacing manual, medium or low throughput protocols.
One of the biggest challenges in any molecular lab is variability. Even the most skilled scientist can introduce small differences when pipetting, transferring liquids, or handling samples — and those differences accumulate. Automation removes that variability, increases efficiency, improves accuracy and decreases the turnaround time — enabling a fourfold increase in productivity per scientist.
A robotic system doesn’t get tired, distracted, or inconsistent. It performs the same action the same way every time.
That consistency translates directly into better science and better outcomes for society When workflows are standardised, results become more reproducible. When hands‑on time is reduced, the risk of contamination decreases. And when processes run faster, sponsors receive data sooner — which accelerates decision‑making across an entire programme.
The difference between manual and automated workflows is stark. A decade ago, extracting nucleic acids from 24 samples could take an entire day — and required multiple scientists cycling samples through incubators, columns, and wash steps. Each manipulation introduced risk, and each step slowed the process, which translated in low productivity and higher costs.
With our new systems, we can extract nearly 100 samples in 30 minutes. That’s not an incremental improvement; it’s a fundamental shift in what a lab can deliver. The QIAGEN QIAsprint Connect platform, combined with our Hamilton‑handling systems, allows us to scale sample processing to levels that would have been impossible with manual methods.
This isn’t just about speed. It’s about enabling studies that require lower input volume per sample available, more frequent sampling, or more complex analyses. Automation expands what’s scientifically and operationally feasible.
Automation also strengthens the quality of the data itself. When extraction, quantification, and amplification steps are standardised, downstream viral‑load measurements become more reliable. That matters for early‑phase studies, where small differences in viral kinetics can influence key decisions about dose, timing, or candidate selection.
Our new real‑time Bio-Rad QX700 S Digital PCR (ddPCR) systems and upcoming digital PCR capabilities add another layer of precision. Digital PCR, for example, allows us to quantify targets with absolute accuracy and detect multiple pathogens or variants within a single sample. These technologies give sponsors deeper insight into how their vaccines or antivirals are performing — and they give regulators greater confidence in the data.
One of the misconceptions about automation is that it replaces people. In reality, it elevates them. When repetitive, manual tasks are automated, scientists can focus on higher‑value work: troubleshooting assays, interpreting results, developing new methods, and supporting complex studies.
It also improves safety. Automated systems reduce the need for late‑night or high‑risk manual handling, and they minimise exposure to infectious material. The result is a lab environment that is not only more productive, but also more sustainable for the people working in it. Automation does the work and humans do the thinking.
The investments we’re making today — in high‑throughput extraction, advanced quantification, next‑generation sequencing (NGS), and digital PCR — are laying the foundation for the next phase of hVIVO’s growth. As studies become more ambitious and the volume of data increases, automation ensures that our labs can scale without compromising quality.
The future of laboratory science is integrated, automated, and data‑driven. By embracing these technologies now, we’re positioning our teams — and our sponsors — to move faster, generate stronger evidence, and ultimately bring better medicines to patients sooner.
Automation isn’t just a technical upgrade. It’s a strategic capability. And it’s reshaping what’s possible in early‑phase research.