Recommended

What it takes to automate high-content imaging at scale | Register for the free webinar! | 25 March 2026
ACCESS THE FREE RECORDING | Top cancer researchers explore advances transforming early discovery, from new targets and models to the therapies of tomorrow
NEW REPORT | Explore how data-driven systems improve reproducibility, speed decisions and make scale achievable across research and development.
The truth about AI in drug discovery: what the experts really think | REGISTER FOR THE FREE WEBINAR
The scientific advances driving cancer drug discovery – find out more
Meet the precision peptide changing how we study pain
Webinar

What it takes to automate high-content imaging at scale

25 March 2026

3:00pm

This webinar examines the design trade-offs and technical constraints involved in building a high-throughput robotic imaging pipeline for complex biological workflows.

As laboratories seek to automate increasingly complex cell-based workflows, high-content imaging often becomes a limiting step. While robotic platforms can scale liquid handling and incubation, integrating advanced imaging into automated systems introduces challenges around reliability, throughput, software compatibility and experimental flexibility. In many cases, these challenges create new bottlenecks rather than removing them.

In this webinar, Automation Scientist Dr Sant Kumar from ETH Zurich’s Lab Automation Facility (LAF) presents a detailed academic case study on the design and deployment of a modular robotic WorkCell. The session focuses on how imaging hardware, including the Yokogawa CellVoyager CQ3000, robotic sample handling and scheduling software were integrated into a single operational system capable of supporting complex biological workflows.

The webinar explores the practical realities of system integration, including:

  • Design trade-offs: balancing imaging performance with operational robustness and scalability
  • Case study in 3D: how confocal imaging and automated target search were implemented to support reliable 384 well tumour spheroid screening
  • System design considerations: how imaging requirements and robotic constraints informed layout and scheduling decisions
  • Managing complexity: when automation improves throughput and where added system complexity can begin to undermine reliability

This session is intended for researchers, automation scientists and facility managers who are evaluating or building automated imaging workflows.

Key learning points: 

  • Understand the practical constraints that arise when integrating high-content imaging into automated robotic WorkCells.
  • Learn which system design choices affect reliability, throughput and long-term scalability in automated imaging workflows.
  • See how imaging requirements influence WorkCell layout, scheduling and overall automation performance.
  • Understand how automated 3D tumour spheroid screening can be implemented at scale in 384 well plates.
  • Take away transferable considerations for laboratories planning or evaluating automated imaging systems.

SPEAKERS

Dr. Sant Kumar, Automation Scientist, Laboratory Automation Facility (LAF), Dept. of Biosystems Science and Engineering (D-BSSE), ETH Zürich

Dr. Sant Kumar is an expert in robotics and laboratory automation, currently serving as an Automation Scientist at ETH Zürich. As the manager of the Laboratory Automation Facility (LAF) within the D-BSSE in Basel, he enables researchers to scale complex science through the integration of high-precision automated systems.

With a PhD from ETH Zürich (2022) focused on optogenetics and cellular feedback control, Dr. Kumar leverages a deep background in Electrical Engineering and Robotics to build hardware and software solutions for the life sciences. His career is dedicated to enhancing the precision and throughput of advanced experimental workflows.

Dr. Yvonne Dürnberger, Business Development Manager High-Content Imaging, Yokogawa Deutschland GmbH

Dr. Yvonne Dürnberger is a Business Development Manager at Yokogawa Life Science Europe, where she drives strategic partnerships, high content imaging initiatives, and market development across the region. With a strong academic background in biology and biomedicine, she gained extensive hands on experience during her PhD at the DZNE in Bonn, where she worked with Yokogawa’s Cell Voyager systems and developed a deep expertise in high content imaging technologies.

In her current role, she collaborates closely with distribution partners and supports application, marketing, and promotional activities to advance Yokogawa’s mission of co innovation. Yvonne is particularly passionate about enabling researchers with cutting edge imaging solutions such as the CellVoyager CQ3000, which she identifies as a game changing technology for making confocal imaging more accessible to scientists.

FAQs

Is the panel discussion free? 

Yes – there is no charge to watch the panel discussion, either live or on-demand. 

When will the panel discussion take place? 

The webinar will be taking place on 25 March 2026

Can I watch it later? 

The panel discussion will become available to watch on-demand shortly after the live webinar takes place. 

What are the benefits of attending live? 

You’ll be able to ask the speakers your questions, which will be answered live in the Q&A towards the end of the session. 

How long will the panel discussion be? 

This panel discussion will last up to an hour. 

What do I need to watch this panel discussion? 

All you need is a computer with an internet connection. We recommend using headphones if possible if you’re in an office environment.