Validating the Feasibility of Using Stem Cells for Drug Discovery

Velocity11 has installed at I-STEM (Evry, France), a novel high throughput automated stem cell culture & screening platform.

Using a design based upon the powerful BioCel® 1800 Automation System the I-STEM platform will use Velocity11's VWorks Automation Control software, an event driven controller, to manage protocols, and execute process runs. Liquid handling on the new I-STEM platform will be handled by two VPrep® Pipetting Systems.

The first VPrep® System will use a 96LT pipetting head (volume range 2-200µl) and be dedicated to stem cell culturing. The second VPrep® System will employ a 96 ST head (volume range 0.5-30µl) and be dedicated to compound management. The I-STEM platform will store and dispense microplates and tip racks using a compact VStack® Automated Plate Stacker. The Velocity11 Lid Hotel* will be used to handle microplate lids. The Velocity11 Bar Code Label Print and Apply Station, VCode®, will be used for plate tracking. A PlateLoc® Thermal Plate Sealer has been integrated into the I-STEM platform in order to provide the capability to seal compound plates after each run.