UK-first high-security robotic AI lab officially opened

Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine’s new high-security robotic AI lab to help fight deadly infections and diseases has been officially opened.

The £20 million Liverpool Accelerate Laboratory, the first of its kind in the UK, was developed in partnership with LSTM-led iiCON: Infection Innovation Consortium and supported by Liverpool City Region Combined Authority funding.

The facility will enable industry and world-leading researchers to use human organoids – lab-grown tissue cultures – to speed up the discovery of life-saving drugs and vaccines, helping to phase out animal testing.

Professor Giancarlo Biagini, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation at LSTM, said: “The Liverpool Accelerate Laboratory is an advanced facility that builds on years of pioneering organoid research at LSTM and partner organisations.

“It harnesses the potential held by this exciting technology to accelerate the development of advanced human infection models for emerging and high-consequence diseases.

“By incorporating machine learning, AI and robotics in a highly secure Category 3 facility, we are automating the development and commercialisation of these advanced organoid models, to expand the scale and speed of infectious disease research and development while delivering precision and reproducibility.”

Professor Janet Hemingway, founding director of iiCON, added: “Research using human organoids is at the cutting-edge of infection research and development (R&D) – moving drug discovery away from animal testing and offering new ways of shaping more targeted treatments to respond to some of our most challenging infections.

“As industry responds to changing regulatory pathways, we are offering an advanced platform for pioneering experimental R&D through the development of advanced organoid models. This will support commercial innovation and accelerate the discovery and development of a new generation of drugs and vaccines.”

“This facility strengthens the region’s position as a global hub for infection and reinforces iiCON and LSTM’s commitment to fostering impactful collaborations, supporting industry and creating high-value jobs – ensuring this facility delivers real-world impact for patients, communities and the wider economy.”

The new lab, due to open fully in 2027, will create well-paid jobs and generate £40 million in investment in the first three years, progressing the Liverpool City Region as a leader in infection innovation.

Scientists will use cutting edge automated technology to work with dangerous pathogens like salmonella and TB in the Containment Level 3 (CL3) lab. By testing their effects on organoids they will gain a better understanding of how effective new treatments will be in humans.

The laboratory is a high-security, steel-clad facility that responds to forthcoming changes in the Terrorism Act, making it a key future-fit UK biosecurity asset.

Claire Caygill, post-doctoral research assistant, has been integrating the robotics and biology at the lab.

“The amount of data the robotics will be able to capture is way beyond what we would be capable of so this is going to be an exciting new challenge for us.

“We now have the capacity to work on high-consequence pathogens without needing a human interface, so it takes away the risk for lab workers while allowing us to do experiments at scale and at speed.”

The pioneering technology supports the UK Government’s £75 million national roadmap to move away from animal testing in science in favour of human-relevant, ethical and accurate alternatives.

Open to businesses of all sizes, Liverpool Accelerate Laboratory will support initial pilot research to enable companies to explore new approaches using organoid testing, offering particular benefit to SMEs and start-ups developing novel drugs and vaccines.

Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram added: “Liverpool has been leading the fight against infectious diseases for generations and this new facility will help keep us at the cutting edge.

“We’re bringing together AI, robotics and world-class research in one place, which means we can develop new drugs and vaccines faster, save lives and reduce the need for animal testing.

“This is exactly the kind of investment our Life Sciences Innovation Zone was designed to deliver, creating good jobs, attracting further investment and cementing our position as a global leader in infection innovation.”

Find out more about iiCON and research and innovation at LSTM.