To realize this project, a fully automated laboratory was created - the "Lab of the Future", which carries out all experiments - from planning to evaluation - independently by robots. Two robots, one equipped with 48 miniaturized bioreactor sytems and a second for carrying out the entire analysis, are located in a production room. They are capable of simultaneously performing cell culture experments independently of each other. The robots are able
to master a multiplicity of steps, for example, cell culture, sampling and analysis. Most of the current robots can only take one step at a time. For technical developments, Dr.-Ing. M. Nicolas Cruz Bournazou, group leader from the Department Computer-aided bioprocess development at TU, and lab manager Dipl.-Ing. Florian Glauche are responsible. The fourth employee at the lab of the Future is Dr. Anke Wagner. She develops proteins that should
be used later for antibiotics or cancer drugs.
 
While tests are still being performed in one bioreactor, another may be already in an evaluation process. To simultaneously carry out mathematical modeling, non-invasive continuous measurements are performed during the entire examination process (cell growth, oxygen concentration and pH of the culture). The obtained data are fed into computer programs enabling that the robots receive optimally coordinated instructions for follow-up tasks.
 
The goal is to drastically shorten development times for the manufacture of pharmaceuticals and other biological products and therefore reduce costs.

Source and further information:
http://www.pressestelle.tu-berlin.de/menue/tub_medien/newsportal/forschungs_news/2017/48_experimente_gleichzeitig/
http://www.bionity.com/de/news/164396/48-experimente-gleichzeitig-entwicklungszeiten-drastisch-verkuerzen-und-kosten-senken.html?WT.mc_id=ca0264