Robotics & Smart Labs
Strategic consulting for pharmaceutical, biotech, and diagnostic laboratories ready to accelerate discovery through integrated robotics and data intelligence
Most Labs Aren't Failing Because They Lack Technology
Your laboratory likely already has automation equipment, data management systems, and talented scientists.
Yet you're still facing:
-
Bottlenecks that slow discovery timelines
-
Automation systems that require constant manual intervention
-
Data silos that prevent meaningful insights
-
Difficulty scaling processes from development to production
-
Loss of critical knowledge when experienced staff depart
-
Unclear ROI on automation investments
The problem isn't technology—it's integration, strategy, and organizational readiness.
A Proven Framework for Laboratory Automation Advancement
Laboratory transformation isn't a one-size-fits-all journey. Organizations operate at different maturity levels and require customized pathways that align with their specific goals, resources, and culture.
The Laboratory Maturity Scale
The maturity of a laboratory's automation capabilities can be assessed against this scale and gain the clarity of their starting point in relation to their goal state.
Where does your lab fall on this scale?
Our Services
Comprehensive Consulting Services for Every Stage of Your Automation Journey
Laboratory Maturity Assessment
-
Comprehensive evaluation of current automation, data infrastructure, and operational processes
-
Gap analysis identifying barriers to advancement
-
Benchmarking against industry best practices
-
Detailed report with prioritized recommendations
Process Improvement & Optimization
-
End-to-end scientific workflow analysis
-
Bottleneck and process variability identification
-
Manual, semi-automated, and automated workflow optimization
-
Data and system integration strategy
-
Process standardization where appropriate
-
Scientist productivity and quality-of-life improvement
Strategic Roadmap Development
-
Customized transformation plans aligned with organizational goals
-
Technology selection and vendor evaluation guidance
-
Budget and resource planning
-
Realistic milestone establishment with success metrics
-
Risk assessment and mitigation strategies
-
Identification of automation opportunities across interconnected workflows
Automation Strategy & Scientific Workflow Engineering
-
Automation feasibility and opportunity analysis
-
Manual-to-automated workflow transformation
-
Integration of instruments, software, data, and human decision points
-
Workflow orchestration and system architecture
-
Scientific application and assay automation
-
Implementation and optimization support
Change Management Leadership
-
Executive coaching for automation initiatives
-
Cultural readiness assessment
-
Staff training and reskilling program design
-
Communication strategy development
-
Building organizational buy-in across all levels
End-to-End Scientific Workflow Transformation
-
Mapping current scientific processes
-
Designing flexible automation-ready workflows
-
Connecting instruments, software, data, and personnel
-
Eliminating duplicate/manual data handling
-
Creating a reliable source of truth
-
Scaling successful workflows across teams and sites
Deep Scientific Experience.
End-to-End Automation Thinking.
about
Kevin Rissolo is a Scientist and Business Process Engineer with decades of experience working across laboratory science, automation, informatics, workflow engineering, and scientific systems.
His career has spanned bench science, assay automation, laboratory systems, LIMS, machine learning, workflow orchestration, and large-scale scientific process transformation.
Kevin specializes in understanding how scientists actually work, then designing flexible systems that connect instruments, processes, data, people, and downstream workflows without restricting scientific creativity.
Throughout his career, he has automated hundreds of scientific workflows, supported global laboratory operations, and helped organizations dramatically reduce manual work, improve turnaround time, increase instrument utilization, and scale scientific output.
Technical Expertise:
-
Scientific workflow and business process engineering
-
Laboratory automation strategy
-
Assay and experimental workflow automation
-
Manual, semi-automated, and fully automated systems
-
Laboratory informatics and LIMS
-
Instrument and laboratory system integration
-
Workflow orchestration
-
High-throughput and secondary screening
-
DMPK / ADME workflows
-
Data management and contextualization
-
Machine learning applications in scientific workflows
-
Laboratory capacity and asset optimization
-
Smart lab and autonomous laboratory design
Scientific & Industry Experience:
-
High-throughput and secondary screening
-
DMPK / ADME
-
Pharmacokinetics and tissue exposure
-
In vitro and in vivo research
-
Cell culture and behavioral science
-
Bioinformatics
-
Laboratory automation
-
Scientific data and informatics
-
Machine learning
-
Laboratory systems and LIMS
-
Instrument integration
-
Biopharmaceutical R&D
-
Global laboratory workflow deployment
A Scientist-First Approach to Automation
Kevin’s approach begins with understanding the scientific question, workflow variation, systems, instruments, and people involved. From there, automation can be designed around an entire class of experiments rather than one rigid procedure, allowing scientists to work faster while maintaining the flexibility needed for research.
Proven Results Across Scientific Workflows
Global Scientific Workflow Automation
-
Challenge: Scientists were spending significant time manually designing experiments, performing calculations, generating instrument run lists, and managing complex plate-based studies.
-
Solution: Developed flexible automation tools supporting multiple assay designs, liquid handling systems, readers, calculations, and experimental configurations.
-
Result: Tools were ultimately used by approximately 2,500 scientists across seven sites for 13 years, dramatically reducing manual effort and increasing experimental capacity.
DMPK / Pharmacokinetics Workflow Transformation
-
Challenge: A largely paper-based process required roughly two months from experimental request through execution, analysis, and reporting.
-
Solution: Connected protocol design, veterinary execution, bioanalysis, informatics, sample tracking, instrument instructions, and reporting into an integrated electronic workflow.
-
Result: High-priority studies could move from request to final report in as little as 1–2 days, with approximately a 97% reduction in data-handling time.
-
Laboratory Capacity & Instrument Optimization
-
Challenge: As automation increased experimental throughput, instrument availability became the new bottleneck.
-
Solution: Implemented scheduling, asset-management, predictive and maintenance workflows to improve instrument utilization and reduce downtime and rework.
-
Result: Increased scientific output while improving use of high-cost laboratory assets and freeing scientists to spend more time analyzing data and making decisions.
Machine Learning Workflow Support
-
Challenge: Computational scientists lacked time to continuously evaluate whether predictive models remained accurate for evolving chemical series.
-
Solution: Automated model evaluation, chemical-space assessment, statistical performance review, and identification of when models required retraining.
-
Result: Reduced an approximately eight-hour weekly process to under a minute while supporting movement toward an “in silico first” research model.
Connecting Automation, Data, & Intelligence
Smart laboratory transformation requires more than isolated automation deployments. Success comes from systematically integrating three interdependent pillars:
Robotics & Physical Automation The "hands" of your lab—executing experiments with precision and reliability while generating comprehensive operational data.
-
Liquid handlers and integrated workcells
-
Adaptive protocols with decision-making logic
-
Closed-loop experimental iterations
Data Infrastructure & Informatics The "brain" of your lab—capturing, contextualizing, and organizing all laboratory activities according to FAIR data principles.
-
Comprehensive metadata capture
-
Ontology-driven data organization
-
System integration and instrument connectivity
Analytics & Artificial Intelligence The "intelligence" of your lab—leveraging contextualized data to learn, adapt, and autonomously optimize experimental parameters.
-
Machine learning for pattern recognition
-
Predictive modeling
-
Autonomous experimental design
Vendor-Neutral Expertise Focused on Your Success
Key Differentiators:
Hands-On Technical Experience
Not just strategy consultants—we have extensive programming and implementation experience across all major automation platforms.
Vendor-Neutral Guidance
Our recommendations are based solely on your needs and goals, not vendor relationships or sales quotas.
Cross-Industry Perspective
Experience spanning pharma, biotech, diagnostics, and CRO environments provides insights into best practices across sectors.
Scientist-First Workflow Design
We design around the science, not around a specific instrument or technology. Workflows preserve the flexibility scientists need while automating repetitive, time-intensive, and error-prone work.
Realistic, Achievable Roadmaps We understand organizational constraints and build plans that account for budget, timeline, and cultural realities.
Cultural Change Expertise Technology deployment is only half the challenge—we guide the organizational transformation required for sustained success.
Continued Partnership From initial assessment through implementation and beyond, we remain engaged partners in your transformation journey.
Begin Your Laboratory Automation Journey
Transformation begins with understanding where you are today and where you want to go. We offer flexible engagement models to match your needs:
Initial Consultation (Complimentary)
30-minute discovery call to discuss your challenges, goals, and potential pathways forward.
Maturity Assessment (2-4 weeks)
Comprehensive evaluation of current capabilities with detailed report and recommendations.
Strategic Planning Engagement (4-8 weeks)
Development of customized transformation roadmap with technology recommendations and implementation plan.
Implementation Partnership (3-12 months)
Hands-on project leadership from planning through deployment and optimization.
Ongoing Advisory Services Retained consulting for continuous improvement and strategic guidance.
Ready to Accelerate Discovery in your Laboratory?
Contact Information:
Kevin Rissolo, Scientist & Business Process Engineer
20/15 Visioneers
Let’s Work Together
Get in touch so we can start working together.
