Novartis unveils new lab approach to boost research capacity
pharmafile | August 27, 2009 | News story | Research and Development |Â Â Novartis, SwitzerlandÂ
Novartis has unveiled a new research approach involving novel lab technology and flexible working, in the hope to speed its discovery of new medicines.
The Lab of the Future concept was unveiled at the company headquarters in Basel at the same time it conducted its Biotechnology Leadership camp for top European students in science.
At the event, chief executive Daniel Vasella said: "Drug discovery evolves rapidly as new technologies and insights into biology modify the scientific approaches. The Lab of the Future, with its modular design and flexibility, equally allows us to rapidly adopt new research tools and foster interdisciplinary work to solve research problems."
Novartis says by the end of 2009 its first Lab of the Future (LOTF) will be complete in Basel, Switzerland. It is an overall global initiative from the company to create state-of-the-art laboratories comprising flexible workspaces, modern furniture and cutting edge technology that will support communication across its labs in Switzerland, China, the UK and the US.
It aims to break down the barriers between the scientists of different disciplines involved in drug discovery, such as biologists, clinicians, toxicologists and chemists, by bringing them together either in the same lab on the same campus, or by high-speed technology and virtual communication.
One major feature to the lab in Basel is the wide screen monitors with interactive touch screen operation to hold videoconferences, develop chemical formulas together, or work on molecular structures in 3D.
Another is the height-adjustable and clip and play furniture, which allows a flexible format to working and allow the scientists to move their surroundings as regularly as they choose.
The concept was designed to appeal to the younger scientists coming through the research chain. In developing the idea, Novartis surveyed some high school students on how they would ideally see a scientific workspace, and the outcome was a more modern, social environment.
There is also much less shelving and storage which Novartis says is cumbersome, and can limit work related and social communication across workbenches.
The overall concept consequently allows more scientists per square foot in the laboratory due to extra space, which the company regards as positive.
Jan de Vries, Head of Novartis Institutes for BioMedical (NIBR) described the company as "trailblazers" in this area, ahead of its competitors in technology.
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