To start, may you present an outline of Trilobio and the motivation behind its founding?
Thanks. I’m Roya, CEO and co-founder of Trilobio. Our mission is to make totally automated laboratories accessible to each biologist. We’ve been working for about two and a half years, and our core innovation is a collection of modular robots—what we name Trilobots—designed to completely automate workflows in molecular and artificial biology.
At present, our methods are getting used throughout the U.S. in areas akin to biotherapeutics growth, uncommon most cancers therapy analysis, and bio-prospecting. We’re nonetheless within the pilot section however getting ready for industrial launch quickly.
What distinguishes Trilobio’s method to laboratory automation from current options?
Affordability and usefulness are on the coronary heart of our platform. Trilobots are modular, snapping collectively like Legos, they usually can switch plates between one another—eliminating the necessity for guide dealing with. Critically, our system doesn’t require costly robotic integration companies to perform. We’re eradicating the standard obstacles which have made automation inaccessible for a lot of labs.
Handbook calibration is a standard problem in automated methods. How does Trilobio tackle this subject?
We’ve developed an auto-calibration system that completes the method in about eight minutes. Sometimes, this might contain manually measuring labware dimensions with calipers—a course of that may take days and even weeks. Our robots carry out this process robotically, which considerably accelerates setup and reduces human error.
Is prior programming or coding data required to function Trilobio’s platform?
In no way. Our software program is designed to be completely no-code. We provide a complete LIMs system that tracks all labware, instruments, and reagents on a consumer’s deck. The software program interface is intuitive and modeled after a conventional lab pocket book. As soon as a consumer has documented their experiment, our analysis engine interprets that into optimized machine code tailor-made to their particular Trilobot setup.
Can experiments be shared throughout totally different laboratories, even these with various gear configurations?
Sure, completely. As a result of our system operates on a better stage of abstraction, researchers can share their experiments whatever the recipient’s particular configuration—whether or not they have extra or fewer Trilobots, totally different pipettes, or various reagents. Our analysis engine adapts the experiment to the obtainable assets, making certain reproducibility and portability.
Out of your perspective, what broader affect may widespread lab automation have on the scientific group?
Our aim is to make full automation the norm fairly than the exception. By liberating scientists from repetitive guide duties, we will unlock new analysis alternatives—permitting experiments to run in a single day or over weekends, as an illustration. Moreover, the artistic potential that emerges when researchers can give attention to high-level experimental design fairly than low-level execution is immense. We imagine it will catalyze a brand new wave of scientific discovery.
How has your background as a biologist formed the event of Trilobio’s expertise?
Coming from a biology background, I’ve skilled firsthand how costly and inaccessible automation applied sciences will be. That’s why we’ve designed our platform to be each user-friendly and inexpensive. By eradicating the necessity for customized integration and reducing {hardware} prices, we’re making superior automation possible even for small tutorial labs—one thing that’s by no means been doable earlier than.
Are there particular areas of analysis the place you see Trilobio’s platform having the best speedy affect?
I’m significantly excited in regards to the potential in microfluidics. Our platform can interface with microfluidic modules to miniaturize experiments, cut back reagent consumption, and speed up workflows. I imagine the mix of microfluidics and large-scale automation will reshape the sector. In some ways, microfluidic chips may turn into the equal of GPUs for lab automation.
Wanting forward, what are the subsequent steps for Trilobio?
Our speedy focus is on scaling and launching the platform to carry automation into extra labs. Lengthy-term, our imaginative and prescient is to make high-throughput, reproducible experimentation accessible to each scientist, no matter lab measurement or funding. We’re excited to assist form a future the place automation accelerates innovation throughout the life sciences.
Watch the total video interview from SLAS 2025 beneath:
Concerning the Interviewee
Roya Amini-Naieni is the CEO and co-founder of Trilobio. She studied arithmetic, laptop science, and biology at Harvey Mudd School, the place she based an artificial biology lab with grant assist from the school president. Her
analysis expertise spans establishments together with the College of Washington, Harvey Mudd School, and Asimov. Roya additionally based the primary non-collegiate iGEM crew in Washington state. She is a 776 Fellow and was named to the Forbes 30 Below 30 checklist.