If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, see the form at the bottom of this page.

PDF Files Available for Review:

• Vision Statement
• Corporate Background & Plans

If you would like to discuss our work, please write or call. We'd be happy to talk with you.

Become a Sponsor of the ILA

The Institute for Laboratory Automation (ILA) is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization whose purpose is to help the user community to:

• take advantage of the technologies available for laboratory automation, and, where needed,
• create programs to develop technologies that are needed to implement effective, robust lab automation systems.

Most of our work to date has been educational and has resulted in publications, articles, and courses. The common element in each of these areas is the same: educating those responsible for lab management and systems design / development about what it takes to create a successful laboratory automation program.

Educational Goals:

• workforce education - helping those working in the lab to understand and effectively use automation & computing technologies
• educating planners - to develop effective plans for the application of lab automation & information technologies to laboratory work
• Laboratory Automation Engineering - educating people to design and implement successful lab automation projects

We are pursuing the development of a new field - Laboratory Automation Engineering - to train people in a multi-disciplinary field that combines science, engineering, and information technology.

Recently we've published an article that discusses the steps that are needed before we can create integrated systems (a printable pdf file is available). The article lays out the basis of an extensive program for standards, modular systems, education, and community efforts needed to successfully pursue integration in lab systems. It also gives you an idea of the costs associated with poorly designed programs.

How does this work benefit you?

• Your laboratories can be more productive & effective than they currently are.
• The return on investment can be significantly improved.
• Over the last 30 years we've only seen incremental improvements in the way labs operate - the real leap in improvements is still ahead of us. Making that leap is going to require better educated personnel, educated not just in science and personnel management, but in technology management and utilization. That isn't just an Information Technology problem, it is a Scientific Information / Automation Technology problem, coupled with a new concept: Scientific Manufacturing in Laboratory Operations.

Doing this work is going to take funding. To date, the work has been funded through our own resources, in order to make the difference we are driving for, additional funding is going to be needed. We are looking for sponsors who are willing to make an investment in our work. Sponsors will be noted on this web site, course materials, press releases, etc. Sponsors will be eligible for discounts on ILA events and courses, and be given opportunities to comment on programs.