In a rapidly evolving clinical trial landscape, the design and functionality of laboratory spaces play a pivotal role in ensuring efficiency, collaboration, and study success. In particular, the rise of precision medicine has increased clinical trial complexity.
Advanced therapeutics such as cell and gene therapies often require a broad array of assays to measure treatment response and therapeutic efficacy. Consequently, to have lasting power, the labs of today must support comprehensive testing solutions across a diverse range of technologies and be built to evolve alongside scientific and technological advancements.
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1. Design for flexibility and growth
Building a future-ready lab involves thoughtful planning along with continuous assessment and adaptation. This includes overbuilding certain infrastructure elements to handle anticipated expansions and regularly updating technologies based on emerging trends and requirements. This proactive approach ensures that the lab remains at the forefront of scientific research and clinical trial support.
A key principle in modern lab design is flexibility. Labs should be built with the ability to adapt to changing workflows, expanding needs, and evolving regulations without significant structural modifications. It is critically important to design labs that can be easily reconfigured and expanded. This includes having adaptable infrastructure that can accommodate new technologies and increased capacities as needed.
One example of this is the use of modular furniture and movable walls, which allow for quick reconfiguration of lab spaces. In addition, incorporating utility hookups in multiple locations can facilitate the installation of new equipment without electrical infrastructure upgrades or extensive renovations.
2. Incorporate advanced technologies thoughtfully
While technology is a cornerstone of modern labs, the selection and integration of these technologies should be strategic. It is essential to keep abreast of market trends and regulatory requirements. This ensures that the lab is equipped with the latest and most relevant instruments. It is also important to continuously evaluate and incorporate new technologies, such as spectral flow cytometry, spatial analysis, and advanced cell biology tools, to stay at the forefront of scientific advancements.
Adopting a platform-agnostic approach allows labs to remain flexible and to integrate the best available technologies without being locked into a single vendor’s ecosystem. This flexibility ensures that labs can sustain a current methodology preferred by a sponsor and adopt new, superior technologies as they emerge. This means sponsors can access the equipment and assays best suited to answering their scientific questions.
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By GlobalData3. Emphasise collaboration and open spaces
Labs agile enough for what’s now, what’s new and what’s next should promote collaboration among scientists, technicians, and sponsors. This can be achieved by designing open spaces with ample natural light and creating various common areas for team interactions. An open and inviting atmosphere not only enhances productivity but also welcomes clients and stakeholders. Consider including huddle rooms, phone rooms, and conference rooms equipped with technology that facilitates seamless meetings and collaborative work. Don’t underestimate what good coffee and a pleasant break room can do for morale!
Implementing digital collaboration tools such as video conferencing systems, interactive whiteboards, and cloud-based project management software can further enhance seamless, on-demand collaboration. These tools enable teams to assemble rapidly and work together effectively, even when some members are remote Another consideration should be accommodating collaboration with sponsors, especially as therapeutic modalities become more complex. This can include providing spaces for sponsors to visit and work within the lab, and facilitating real-time feedback and adjustments.
4. Plan for efficient sample management
Efficient sample management is crucial, especially when dealing with complex clinical trials that require multiple assays. For instance, a clinical trial may require genetic sequencing, proteomic analysis, and flow cytometry on samples from the same time point. Labs should be designed to minimise sample consumption and handling errors. This includes having advanced instrumentation that uses minimal sample volumes and processes samples rapidly to reduce degradation risks. Proper planning of assays to run concurrently can also help in conserving precious samples, minimising freeze-thaw cycles, and cutting patient burdens.
Implementing robust sample tracking systems and automated storage solutions can help ensure that samples are handled correctly and efficiently. These systems can track samples in real time, reducing the risk of misplacement or loss.
5. Standardise and optimise workflows and communication
As the number and type of assays used within clinical trials increase, there is a need to standardise workflows and facilitate multidisciplinary dialogue. A well-designed laboratory optimises workflows through strategic placement of equipment, workstations, and storage solutions. Workflow optimisation streamlines the movement of samples, minimises unnecessary steps, and reduces the risk of contamination, leading to fewer errors and faster turnaround times.
With advanced therapies, accurate characterisation and efficacy measurement have become more challenging and complex and often require both a wide array of different equipment and technologies and cross-functional conversations among experts across disciplines. Integrating diverse capabilities into a single lab environment facilitates this collaboration, increasing efficiency and enabling a holistic approach to data analysis.
Automation plays a pivotal role in workflow optimisation and capability integration. Automated systems can be used to handle high volumes of samples rapidly, reducing the time required for analysis and increasing throughput. They can also be used for efficiently managing and analysing large datasets and scaling up capacity to meet increased demand or to accommodate new technologies. By reducing manual labour and reallocating human resources to more critical, value-added tasks, automation augments efficiency, accuracy, and scalability and reduces the incidence of repetitive strain injury in your workforce.
By adhering to these best practices, labs can create an environment that not only meets current clinical trial needs but also adapts to future advancements in science and technology, ultimately contributing to more efficient and effective clinical research.
Incorporating the best practices described above, in May 2024, Precision for Medicine announced the completion of a major expansion to its laboratory campus in Frederick, Maryland, US. This 125,000ft² facility offers increased capacity to support research in viruses, oncology, and advanced therapy medicinal products.
By applying these strategies, the Frederick laboratory campus is a centre of excellence for gene therapy companion diagnostic development, advanced immunological monitoring research, large molecule bioanalytical testing services, complex sample kitting manufacturing, and global logistics.
Key takeaway
Modern labs are the foundation upon which the promise of personalised medicine is built. They serve as bridges connecting state-of-the-art equipment and expertise, skilled personnel, and quality healthcare.
As therapeutics and clinical trials increase in complexity, so does the need for laboratories that are flexible and agile enough to move at the speed of innovation. Putting multidisciplinary laboratory capabilities under one roof facilitates communication, increases efficiency, streamlines logistics, and maximises sample value, benefitting both sponsors and study participants.
By fostering a culture of collaboration, smart laboratory design encourages teamwork, leading to improved problem-solving, knowledge sharing, and ultimately, improved patient care.
