Field Application Scientist

SPT Labtech to collaborate with Illumina to develop automated platform supporting genomics in decentralized healthcare settings. * SPT Labtech to develop an automated sample preparation platform for Illumina to further optimize the efficiency and benefits of genomic workflows in decentralized healthcare settings * Builds on success of existing partnership including development of automated library preparation methods on SPT Labtech's firefly(R) platform * The novel platform will enable decentralized labs to access the same level of automation, precision and reproducibility as large core facilities Cambridge, UK, 25 February 2026: SPT Labtech, a global leader in the design and development of laboratory automation and liquid handling solutions, today announced a strategic collaboration with Illumina to develop a novel automated sample preparation platform designed to streamline and standardize genomics workflows across decentralized healthcare environments. The collaboration will focus on helping labs support improved patient care in oncology by enabling broader access to high-quality genomic characterization of disease. By bringing advanced automation to laboratories of all sizes and settings, the collaboration aims to accelerate the delivery of actionable insights from sample to result. The platform will support laboratories using Illumina's MiSeq i100 benchtop sequencing system, which makes high-quality next-generation sequencing (NGS) more accessible to labs around the world. The solution is designed to provide standardized, automated workflows that enable laboratories to achieve rapid, high-quality insights closer to where critical decisions are being made. Rob Walton, Chief Executive Officer at SPT Labtech, said: "This next phase of collaboration with Illumina reflects our shared focus on enabling efficient and accessible genomics workflows, further expanding SPT Labtech's presence in the clinical genomics market. With the rapid global adoption of Illumina's MiSeq i100 platform and the recent shipment of its 1,000th system, there is a growing demand from laboratories seeking to perform their sequencing operations in-house, thereby maximizing control and reducing turnaround times. By combining our expertise in automation and sequencing, we are well positioned to help laboratories adopt advanced genomics workflows within decentralized healthcare settings." Todd Christian, senior vice president of Services, Arrays, and Genomic Access at Illumina commented: "Labs around the world rely on Illumina for high-quality, reliable insights and end-to-end workflows that make it easier for them to unlock crucial genomic insights faster. This collaboration builds on that history and doubles down on our commitment to expand access to next-generation sequencing for labs of all sizes, ultimately enabling researchers and clinicians to drive breakthroughs that matter for the patients they serve."

SPT Labtech, Illumina to develop automated sample preparation platform for MiSeq i100. NEW YORK - SPT Labtech said on Wednesday that it will collaborate with Illumina to develop an automated sample preparation platform for the sequencing technology firm's MiSeq i100 benchtop system. To read the full story...

SPT Labtech and BellBrook Labs introduce high-throughput screening platform for cancer research. Cambridge, UK, and Madison, USA, 9 February 2026: SPT Labtech, a global leader in the design and development of automated instrumentation and consumables for life sciences, and BellBrook Labs, a pioneer in high-throughput screening (HTS) assay tools, today announced a collaboration to advance cancer research. Together, the companies have developed a miniaturized, high-throughput screening platform for the discovery and profiling of Vacuolar protein sorting associated protein 4B (VPS4B) ATPase inhibitors, addressing a critical bottleneck in early-stage oncology drug discovery. VPS4B has emerged as a high-priority therapeutic target in oncology due to its overexpression in specific tumors and its synthetic-lethal relationship with its paralog, VPS4A, but despite its potential, the industry has so far lacked robust, scalable screening approaches to identify effective inhibitors. The new miniaturized platform addresses this challenge by combining BellBrook Labs' Transcreener(R) ADP2 fluorescence polarization assay with SPT Labtech's dragonfly(R) discovery system. The Transcreener assay enables direct, homogeneous detection of ADP with high sensitivity, while SPT Labtech's dragonfly discovery system for automated reagent dispensing offers a precise and scalable solution. The combined solution is capable of operating in 384- and 1536-well formats, improving data quality over manual approaches, while significantly minimizing reagent consumption and cost. High-throughput screening on this platform enabled identification of 13 novel VPS4B inhibitors, which can be further evaluated using SPT Labtech's mosquito(R) liquid handling platform for rapid, robust follow-up testing. Data demonstrating identification of 13 novel VPS4B inhibitors will be presented at SLAS 2026, 7-11 February, 2026. Justin Brink, President of BellBrook Labs, commented: "Our collaboration with SPT Labtech is a response to the industry's need for smarter, moreresource-efficient drug discovery. Through a combination of our Transcreener technology with the precision of the dragonfly discovery platform, we have significantly lowered the barriers to VPS4B screening, allowing researchers to dramatically reduce reagent consumption while maintaining the high Z' values and data sensitivity required for reliable hit identification. It's a game-changer for any biotech or pharma team targeting these complex ATPases." "Building on 25 years of positive displacement technology, we are supporting our customers to achieve faster, more efficient liquid handling, laying the foundation for the next generation of laboratory automation," said Joby Jenkins, Chief Technology Officer at SPT Labtech. "Our latest collaboration with BellBrook Labs demonstrates the power of combining industry-leading assay chemistry with world-class liquid handling. By miniaturizing the VPS4B assay without compromising data quality, we are providing Pharma and Biotech companies with a truly scalable path toward new cancer therapeutics." SPT Labtech and BellBrook Labs will be exhibiting at SLAS 2026 (booth 616 and 2808, respectively). Media Contact: Dr Ben Rutter, Zyme Communications - [email protected]