BU Clinical Testing Lab (CTL)

Out of necessity for rapid COVID-19 testing within Boston University’s community, the Design Automation and Manufacturing Processes (DAMP) Lab helped develop what has been known as the BU Clinical Testing Lab (CTL) for the last two years. Equipped with high-throughput liquid handling robots and a streamlined process, the CTL processed more than 2 million SARS-CoV-2 tests since its inception in 2020. In June 2022, as community testing requirements declined, the DAMP Lab absorbed the CTL to enter a new phase in the DAMP Lab’s journey. Combining the design expertise and collaborative vision of the DAMP Lab with the automation capabilities of the CTL, the result is a highly-equipped and professionally staffed biofoundry. Our vision is two-part: firstly, to support BU and the greater Boston area research community by allowing researchers to utilize our automation pipeline as well as supporting the development of novel automation techniques; secondly, to expand the global pool of knowledge surrounding biofoundry development and laboratory automation. To reach the first goal, the DAMP Lab offers 41 services and 9 bundles to researchers who may require additional resources to most efficiently complete their work. These services can save valuable time and resources, allowing scientists to focus on ideas rather than repetitive lab protocols, as well as create an avenue for those who may not have the accessibility to complete wet-lab experiments. To jumpstart the launch of these new services, the DAMP Lab is assessing applications for pilot projects from researchers at Boston University. For chosen projects, the DAMP Lab team will collaborate with researchers to design automated protocols to expedite their research and optimize valuable resources. In order to add to the body of knowledge regarding biofoundry support and development, the DAMP Lab looks forward to continued collaboration with GBA partners in order to identify and find solutions to key automation and biofoundry challenges. Our hope is to develop and employ systems and processes that will be universally applicable, scalable, and modular in order to support our partners.