Pharma Research Automation by Connecting Researchers with Robots and Systems (CamundaCon 2019)

Camunda Platform 8, our cloud-native solution for process orchestration, launched in April 2022. Images and supporting documentation in this video may reflect an earlier version of our cloud and software solutions.

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Speaker:
Daniel Butnaru
Solution Architect
Roche

The discovery of new therapeutic molecule has become a highly demanding endeavour. The main goal is to find an effective molecule, i.e. one that address a particular disease. On this path many conditions need to be met. A critical one is to ensure the safety of the molecule, meaning that it only targets the disease and nothing more. Next, while having ensured safety and effectiveness, another question that arises is the suitability for production, i.e. is it even possible to produce the molecule consistently and at scale over the many years the medicine will be available on the market? This is especially challenging for biologics, i.e. large therapeutic molecules produced by living cells.

Looking at the software landscape in pharma research we are confronted with a highly heterogeneous view, involving a broad combinations of different software systems with various interfacing possibilities. Molecules are tracked in registration systems, lab information management systems or electronic lab notebooks store process data. Requests between labs are handled by requesting systems, robotic systems (liquid handlers, analytics) produce large data and we can’t ignore the amount of spreadsheets used to document or calculate.

While faced with complex questions, researchers have developed a series of individual methods that, on their own, answer or help with a small part of the questions above. The true value comes by automating the combination of these methods into end-to-end processes that answer the full research question. Thus it is more than fitting to use business process modelling not only to describe the research process, but to also execute it.

In this presentation we show the use of business process modelling to map and drive research processes stretching over researcher decision points, backend systems and robots. In particular, our current robot integration is to treat robots as external systems where the orchestration engine configures, monitors and collects results while the user is still fully in charge of loading and triggering an actual run. Unlike fully automated setups, a research environment demands flexibility as processes and their branches change. Even so, we show by using executable business processes in the pharma industry research, we increase throughput, transparency, standardization and time-to-results .

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Camunda is the leader in process orchestration software. Our software helps orchestrate complex business processes that span people, systems, and devices. With Camunda, business users collaborate with developers to model and automate end-to-end processes using BPMN-powered flowcharts that run with the speed, scale, and resiliency required to compete in today’s digital-first world. Hundreds of enterprises such as Atlassian, ING, and Vodafone design, automate, and improve mission-critical business processes with Camunda to drive digital transformation.