By Katarzyna Hafezi, Senior Research Technician, The Genetics Core, University of Edinburgh 

In a world where automation is transforming every industry, laboratories are no exception. For those of us working in sample processing, the repetitive nature of tasks like pipetting whole blood or saliva samples can be both time-consuming and physically demanding. That’s why attending the Chemagic Lunch & Learn Event in Dresden was such a game-changer – and it was all made possible thanks to UK RAS STEPS funding. 

Hosted in partnership with DKMS Life Science Lab gGmbH and Revvity, the event focused on cutting-edge automation in biospecimen management. It offered a deep dive into how platforms like the Chemagic 360 are revolutionising sample preparation and extraction – especially as research demands evolve to include more complex materials like cfDNA and cfRNA. 

One of the most eye-opening parts of the event was the tour of the DKMS Life Science Lab. Watching a robotic arm seamlessly feed plastics into automated platforms and transfer samples between stations was like stepping into the future. It was a powerful reminder that automation doesn’t replace technicians – it empowers them. By offloading repetitive tasks, we’re free to focus on more critical, analytical work. 

At the Genetics Core, we currently operate three Chemagic 360 platforms for extracting genetic material from a variety of sources, including whole blood, saliva, swabs, and dried blood spots on Whatman cards. While we still manually prepare plates for processing, the event introduced me to the Flex Robotic Arm from Revvity – a tool that could transform our setup into a fully integrated, human-friendly workflow station. Seeing it in action gave me the confidence that such automation can be both safe and efficient. 

Beyond the tech, the event was a valuable opportunity to network with peers and industry experts. I exchanged insights with other users working on similar protocols, especially around the growing interest in dried blood spot extraction. These conversations are already helping shape our transition from manual to automated workflows, and I’m hopeful they’ll lead to future collaborations and support. 

Attending in person made all the difference. Online workshops simply can’t replicate the hands-on experience and spontaneous knowledge-sharing that happens face-to-face. I’m incredibly grateful to UK RAS STEPS for making this opportunity possible. It’s not just about attending an event – it’s about bringing back knowledge that will help improve our lab’s efficiency, accuracy, and innovation.