Progress & accountability in modern life sciences in SLAS Technology Vol. 38

Oak Brook, IL – Volume 38 of SLAS Technology includes one review, three technical briefs, nine original research articles, two literature highlights, and seven entries from Special Issues on Revolutionizing Transcriptomics from Single-Cell Insights to RNA-Based Interventions and Bio-Inspired Computing and Machine Learning Analytics for a Future-Oriented Mental Well-Being.

Review

• Viral Vector Research in Human Gene Therapy: Basic Principles, Alternative Evaluation Models, and Clinical Applications
  This review examines the pivotal role of viral vectors in gene therapy, comparing their efficacy across diverse evaluation models and therapeutic applications, and highlighting recent advances in vector stability and safety.

Technical Briefs

• OT2Eye: Detection of Labware Conditions to Monitor and Extend Affordable Liquid-Handling Robots
  An overview of the OT2Eye, an open-source labware detection tool for the Opentrons OT-2 robot, that identifies labware types, positions and tip presence from images, enabling machine-readable status tracking and integration with AI-driven automation.
• Engineering Integrated Evaporation Solutions: Harmonizing Manual Approaches with Automated Laboratory Workflows
  This brief highlights a novel benchtop solvent evaporation platform engineered to dramatically accelerate solvent removal within a standard fume hood, using helical-channel adapters, integrated heating, and pressurized nitrogen to generate powerful vortices for rapid, uniform drying.
• HueTools: A Modular Image Processing and ML Toolkit for Quantitative Colorimetric Assay Development
  A presentation of HueTools, a comprehensive image processing software suite that standardizes smartphone imaging of paper-based colorimetric assay analysis using CIELAB color space and interpretable machine learning.

Original Research

• Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) Combined with Diffusion Tensor Tractography (DTT) in the Brain Function and Volumetric Imaging in Children with Autism
  A study combining DTI and DTT in over 600 children with autism reveals significant microstructural abnormalities in key white matter pathways, including the corpus callosum and internal capsule, compared to healthy controls.
• A Method for the Evaluation of Automated Solid Dosing Technologies for Mid-Scale Dosing Tasks in Laboratory Automation
  This study investigates the requirements for automated solid dosing in biotechnological laboratories and introduces a method for assessing off-the-shelf technologies to address a critical gap in laboratory automation, thereby reducing manual handling risks and improving efficiency in routine biotech workflows.
• Continuous Evolving Humanoid for Advanced Cellular Models
  The authors introduce “Maholo LabDroid,” an optimized humanoid robotic system for long-term iPSC culture and organoid generation, integrating real-time imaging and flexible liquid handling to improve clinical outcome predictivity.
• Experience from an HTS Campaign: Investigation of Susceptibility and Rescue of SARS-CoV-2 nsp3 Protease Assay from Metal Contamination
  A high-throughput screen discovers that copper and palladium contamination caused false-positive hits in SARS-CoV-2 nsp3 protease screens, highlighting the critical importance of robust counter-screens to avoid wasted resources in drug discovery.
• Development and Validation of a Novel Ion-Pair Hydrophilic Interaction Liquid Chromatography Method for the Separation and Quantification of Oligonucleotide Therapeutics
  The authors develop and optimize an ion-pair hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (IP-HILIC) system achieving baseline separation of 20–30-mer oligonucleotide therapeutics with superior resolution and peak symmetry compared to traditional methods.
• Identification of a Telomere-Aging-Related Gene as a Novel Prognostic Factor for Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma: Machine Learning-Aided Biomarker Discovery and Experimental Verification
  Researchers construct a prognostic risk model for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma using four telomere- and aging-related genes—BET1L, RAD50, ANXA1, and AURKA—that demonstrate high accuracy in predicting patient outcomes.
• Development of a Novel Fluid Removal System to Increase Throughput and Uniformity of Fluid Exchange in an Open Microfluidic Culture Platform
  This article describes the Stacks Insert System, a novel fluid-removal device that reduces exchange time by more than 14-fold and improves volume uniformity compared to conventional manual pipetting on the Stacks open microfluidic cell culture platform. The simple, adaptable accessory enhances efficiency and reproducibility for ultra-low-volume fluid exchanges, with potential applications across other microfluidic and tissue chip systems.
• Self-Organized Anteroposterior Regionalization of Early Midbrain and Hindbrain/Spinal Cords Using Micropatterned Human Pluripotent Stem Cells
  This research article demonstrates that micropatterned human pluripotent stem cells self-organize into anterior-posterior brain regions via BMP/Noggin dynamics, providing a rapid teratogen screening tool.
• GPT-Enhanced Robotic Automation Platform with User-Friendly Instruction Framework for Versatile Applications
  The authors develop a universal laboratory automation platform that combines a standardized instruction framework for controlling multi-brand robots with a zero-code natural language interface powered by OpenAI's GPTs, allowing scientists to automate complex workflows using simple text commands. Their system offers a practical, accessible solution for multi-robot automation without requiring programming expertise.

Literature Highlights

• Life Sciences and Accountability
  This entry in the Life Sciences and Society series by SLAS Technology Associate Editor Kerstin Thurow, PhD, examines the intrinsic tension between scientific progress and accountability in the life sciences, arguing that responsibility must be understood as a cultural and ethical compass rather than a bureaucratic brake.
• Literature Highlights Column: From the Literature
  The authors highlight several articles contributing to advances in biotechnology, AI in science, and nanotechnology.

Special Issues

• Revolutionizing Transcriptomics from Single-Cell Insights to RNA-Based Interventions
  This Special Issue on systems genetics examines gene and molecular interaction networks, utilizing high-throughput sequencing and multi-omics technologies to understand how genetic networks influence phenotypes. It emphasizes the significance of personalized medicine, therapeutic target discovery and biomarker identification through integrated genomic and epigenomic approaches.
• Bio-Inspired Computing and Machine Learning Analytics for a Future-Oriented Mental Well-Being
  The Special Issue proposes bio-inspired computing and machine learning analytics for mental well-being in the field of life sciences innovation. Featured research reinforces the goal of revolutionizing the delivery of biological services through a medical assistive environment and facilitating the independent living of patients.

All active SLAS Discovery and SLAS Technology call for papers are available at: https://www.slas.org/publications/call-for-papers/

This volume of SLAS Technology is available at https://www.slas-technology.org/issue/S2472-6303(26)X2001-5

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SLAS Technology reveals how scientists adapt technological advancements for life sciences exploration and experimentation in biomedical research and development. The journal emphasizes scientific and technical advances that enable and improve:

• Life sciences research and development
• Drug delivery
• Diagnostics
• Biomedical and molecular imaging
• Personalized and precision medicine

SLAS (Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening) is an international professional society of academic, industry and government life sciences researchers and the developers and providers of laboratory automation technology. The SLAS mission is to bring together researchers in academia, industry and government to advance life sciences discovery and technology via education, knowledge exchange and global community building.

SLAS Technology: Translating Life Sciences Innovation, 2025 Impact Factor 3.7. Editor-in-Chief Edward Kai-Hua Chow, PhD, KYAN Technologies, Los Angeles, CA (USA).

 

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