Abstract

Stem Cell Culture Automation: Challenges and Benefits

Glyn Stacey, Director/Head, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control

Members of lab staff who have the ability to culture cells in vitro have traditionally been recognised as “green-fingered” and translating such ill-defined skills into an automated system is clearly a significant challenge. The automation of cell culture procedures is typically approached by using robotic systems to replicate cell culture manipulations which have remained largely unchanged for decades. In order to deliver more stable and reproducible cell culture systems, it could therefore be highly beneficial to use initiatives in automation to reconsider cell culture from the perspective of the needs of cell cultures. In this presentation these “needs” will be reviewed and alternative approaches to automation considered with respect to how they could meet the demands of reliable delivery of cells for different applications.