Philip, thank you for joining us today. As the newly appointed President of the Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening (SLAS) and Director General of EU-OPENSCREEN, could you share what initially motivated you to become involved with SLAS?

Thank you for having me. My involvement with SLAS stems from a strong belief in the power of collaboration and innovation in the life sciences. SLAS offers a valuable platform that brings together researchers, technologists, and industry leaders to tackle key challenges in laboratory automation and screening. For me, it was a natural step to engage with an organisation so closely aligned with my own interests in integrating advanced technologies—such as artificial intelligence and automation—into research workflows.

How do you see your role in SLAS influencing your work as Director General of EU-OPENSCREEN?
The two roles complement each other well, as both are centred around promoting innovation and enabling collaboration. At EU-OPENSCREEN, our mission is to build a European infrastructure that provides open access to screening technologies and compound libraries. Through SLAS, I gain access to a global network of innovators and emerging technologies. This cross-pollination ensures that the latest developments in laboratory automation and data integration are made available to the wider scientific community, which in turn supports our goals at EU-OPENSCREEN and advances impactful drug discovery efforts.

Speaking of drug discovery, what is your vision for its future?
I see the future of drug discovery being shaped by three core elements: personalisation, collaboration, and data-driven innovation. AI is playing a transformative role in this space, enabling us to analyse vast datasets from genomics, proteomics, and high-throughput screening in ways that would be impossible manually. This accelerates the identification of novel therapeutic targets. At the same time, personalised medicine is becoming more feasible as we integrate these data streams to tailor treatments to individual patients. Achieving these goals will require strong partnerships across academia, industry, and the tech sector.

How does your work with EU-OPENSCREEN contribute to that vision?
EU-OPENSCREEN is ideally placed to help realise this vision. As a European research infrastructure, we offer open access to high-quality screening facilities and compound libraries, levelling the playing field for researchers—particularly those at smaller institutions. One of my priorities is to strengthen our links with international organisations, such as SLAS, to ensure that our infrastructure remains at the forefront of technological developments. We’re actively working to integrate AI and data-driven methods into our resources, helping scientists handle complex datasets and speed up discovery. This will ultimately make drug discovery more efficient and impactful.
 
What specific steps do you plan to take to strengthen EU-OPENSCREEN’s role in global drug discovery?
A key focus will be on partnerships. Deepening our collaboration with organisations like SLAS will allow us to adopt the latest advances in automation, AI, and data sharing. I also plan to expand training and education efforts, ensuring that researchers across Europe are equipped to use these technologies effectively. Enhancing our data-sharing infrastructure will further support collaboration and insight generation. Finally, I’m committed to advocating for sustainable funding models that will secure long-term access to and development of our resources.

That sounds like a comprehensive approach. Before we finish, is there a message you’d like to share with the scientific community?
Certainly. I’d like to emphasise how crucial collaboration and data integration are to the future of drug discovery. Whether through SLAS, EU-OPENSCREEN, or other initiatives, working together is essential to addressing the complex challenges we face. AI and data will be central to these efforts, and we must ensure these tools are accessible, standardised, and applied effectively. By breaking down barriers between disciplines, organisations, and countries, we can ensure that innovation reaches all parts of the research community. I’m excited to be part of this journey and look forward to seeing what we can achieve together.

Thank you, Philip, for sharing your insights. We’re looking forward to seeing how your leadership will shape the future of both SLAS and EU-OPENSCREEN.
Thank you. It’s been a pleasure to speak with you, and I look forward to welcoming everyone to my home city of Hamburg for the SLAS Europe meeting in May 2025.