In the rapidly advancing world of laboratory automation, Instromeda Ltd., an innovative small and medium-sized enterprise (SME), is making significant strides with its flagship product, the SPR Neo. At the forefront of automating complex biophysical analyses, the company is preparing to demonstrate the capabilities of this technology at SLAS Europe, the continent’s premier laboratory automation and drug screening event taking place in Hamburg. Hailing from Oxford, with operations spanning Hamburg and San Francisco, Instromeda aims to transform computational biology through its self-driving laboratory systems. Their mission emphasizes democratizing sophisticated analyses, ensuring that they are accessible to a broad scientific audience, including robotic platforms, AI agents, and cloud services.
Redefining Biophysical Instrumentation with SPR Neo
Bridging the Technological Gap
Instromeda Ltd. is redefining the domain of biophysical instrumentation by integrating automation at the core of its operations, presenting a solution aimed at overcoming longstanding bottlenecks in discovery workflows. SPR Neo extends the traditional surface plasmon resonance (SPR) technology into an automated realm, determined to change the long-standing difficulty of automating SPR processes. This task is accomplished through Instromeda’s innovative deviceOS—a cloud-native operating system that positions the SPR Neo at the cutting edge of biophysical research. Its single-needle, seven-channel configuration, combined with gold-standard data quality, showcases the device’s advanced capabilities to users via standard web browsers.
Remote accessibility has become foundational in modern laboratories, and the SPR Neo reflects this trend. The technology supports users as they design, monitor, and analyze experiments from diverse geographical locations, providing seamless integration with both human operations and robotic systems. By focusing on genuine innovation at the device level rather than merely optimizing peripheral components, Instromeda is challenging outdated analytical instruments, opening the field to a wider scientific community. The move toward cloud-based solutions, featuring extensive remote operations, resonates with laboratories’ need for efficiency and flexibility, ensuring uninterrupted research progression.
Emphasizing Automation and Connectivity
Central to Instromeda’s innovative approach is the SPR Neo’s blend of automation and connectivity, characteristics that directly reflect modern laboratory needs. The device is engineered to interface effortlessly with broader data ecosystems, featuring RESTful APIs, Python control, and compatibility with communication platforms such as Slack. This advanced programmability allows the SPR Neo to operate in coordinated efforts, leveraging its ability to conduct scientific experiments efficiently, with significantly reduced human intervention. The automation aspect is so comprehensive that overall human involvement sees up to a 95% reduction compared to traditional SPR platforms, eliminating the necessity for specialized SPR knowledge.
The democratization of biophysical analysis—driven notably by the SPR Neo’s pricing strategy—underscores Instromeda’s commitment to making advanced scientific tools available to a wider audience. Positioned at approximately one-third the price of comparable systems, the SPR Neo is inviting, particularly to early-stage biotechnology firms, academic institutions, and platforms driven by AI discovery. These cost-effective solutions ensure broad participation in pioneering research, facilitating progress across various fields without compromising data quality or analytical accuracy. Instromeda’s pricing, combined with its product’s stellar performance, firmly supports aspirations for open and accessible scientific inquiry.
Instromeda’s Leadership and Strategic Vision
Pioneering Innovation through Expertise
Guided by a knowledgeable and dynamic leadership team, Instromeda is carving a path of innovation in laboratory automation. Co-CEO Klaus Wiehler leverages his background in electronics and computer vision, alongside his experience at Sierra Sensors, to propound the company’s operational capabilities. His expertise blends adeptly with that of Co-CEO Adam Miles, who brings a specialized focus on product leadership, strengthening Instromeda’s market position. Miles’ previous roles at Exscientia and Bruker have endowed him with substantial experience in developing SPR-based instruments, which he now channels into refining the SPR Neo for contemporary scientific challenges.
The engineering prowess within the company is further amplified by Ben Lefroy, Director of Engineering, whose proficiency in designing and constructing medical devices contributes significantly to tackling intricate instrumentation hurdles. Lefroy’s role ensures the SPR Neo remains at the pinnacle of technological superiority without succumbing to the complexities that often hinder innovative progress. Complementing this team is Jakub Pliszka, Senior Software Engineer, who oversees the strategic alignment of Instromeda’s software architecture, embedding it within both embedded systems and cloud infrastructures, crucial for the SPR Neo’s remote operational strength.
Seeking Collaboration and Future Opportunities
Instromeda’s involvement in events such as SLAS Europe highlights its vision for forging collaborations and engaging with early adopters and pilot users. By showcasing the SPR Neo, the company seeks to foster advancements in laboratory instrumentation by inviting contributions from entities working in emerging modalities, including innovative biotherapies like PD(L)1xVEGF bispecific cell engagers. The ambition behind these engagements is to build a community of partners who can collectively elevate laboratory standards while addressing real-world scientific inquiries.
Instromeda’s strategic partnerships are designed to complement its in-house capabilities, enabling the company to expand its reach and influence within the scientific community. By participating in discussions and forming alliances in the ‘New modalities’ focus topic, Instromeda leverages its technological edge to propel collective progress within the community. These collaborative efforts harmonize with Instromeda’s broader vision for advancing laboratory automation, ensuring that breakthrough research tools are not only developed but also effectively utilized to address pressing scientific challenges.
Paving the Way for a Self-Driving Laboratory Future
Instromeda Ltd. is transforming biophysical instrumentation by embedding automation into its core operations, addressing persistent challenges in discovery processes. The SPR Neo revolutionizes traditional surface plasmon resonance (SPR) technology by automating it, an achievement driven by Instromeda’s inventive deviceOS—a cloud-based operating system that elevates the SPR Neo to the forefront of biophysical research. Its advanced single-needle, seven-channel setup provides gold-standard data quality, enabling users to access these capabilities through standard web browsers.
Remote accessibility is now essential in modern labs, and the SPR Neo mirrors this need. The technology facilitates the design, monitoring, and analysis of experiments from various locations, ensuring smooth integration with both human and robotic operations. Focused on true innovation at the device level, Instromeda enhances outdated analytical instruments, making the field more accessible to the scientific community. By moving toward cloud-based solutions featuring remote operations, laboratories gain efficiency and flexibility, securing uninterrupted research progress.
