SPT Labtech, Semarion Work to Advance Automated Cell-Based Assay Workflows

SPT Labtech, a global leader in innovative laboratory automation, entered a strategic collaboration with Semarion, a University of Cambridge spin-out company from the Cavendish Laboratory, to address unmet drug screening needs. 

The partnership will integrate SPT Labtech’s firefly liquid handling platform with Semarion’s SemaCyte microcarrier technology to develop a flexible, scalable, and automated workflow that simplifies and accelerates key stages of adherent cell assay development.

Together, SPT Labtech and Semarion aim to set a new standard for flexibility and scalability in cell-based assay design, enabling researchers to adapt workflows to their applications while improving efficiency and reproducibility.

The collaboration will overcome long-standing challenges in miniaturizing and automating complex cell biology processes. It will explore the development of joint application protocols, proof-of-concept data, and workflow optimization strategies to provide researchers with more adaptable tools for cell-based discovery.

Jeroen Verheyen, CEO and Co-Founder at Semarion, said: “This partnership demonstrates the impact of combining our innovative microcarrier technology with agile automation. By Integrating our SemaCyte platform with SPT Labtech’s firefly system, we’re unlocking a new class of flexible, miniaturized workflows that streamline assay development and unlock more scalable discovery pipelines.”

Morten Frost, Chief Commercial Officer at SPT Labtech, commented: “This partnership reflects our dedication to innovation that meets researchers where they are—scaling up, scaling down, and adapting as science evolves.”