What SLAS 2026 is all about

The SLAS International Conference & Exhibition is the flagship event for laboratory automation, screening technologies, and life sciences discovery innovation — drawing thousands of researchers, automation experts, and R&D leaders each year. SLAS 2026 will take place from February 7–11 at the Thomas Michael Menino Convention & Exhibition Center (MCEC) in Boston, MA.

The conference blends multiple elements that reflect the current trajectory of laboratory operations:

• Eight scientific and technology tracks, including Data Science and AI, Sample Management, Automation Technologies, Omics & Spatial Omics, and more.
• Pre-conference short courses and provider showcases that focus on hands-on innovation.
• Exhibition halls with suppliers, integrators, and R&D technology leaders demonstrating solutions that accelerate discovery and automate complex workflows. 

Key themes at SLAS 2026

While detailed session titles and times are typically finalized closer to the event, pre-event information highlights several trends shaping conversations in life sciences labs:

Automation and Integration

At its core, SLAS is about making lab work more reliable, reproducible, and scalable. Automation solutions — from liquid handlers and robotics to software orchestration — will be front and center across talks, tutorials, and exhibits.

Data Science and AI in the Lab

The inclusion of a dedicated Data Science and AI track signals how deeply artificial intelligence and machine learning are becoming embedded in both discovery and operations workflows — from predictive analytics to workflow guidance and anomaly detection.

Sample Management and Informatics

Sample Management, once a niche topic, now gets its own space within the program — reflecting the increasing importance of connecting physical materials with digital intelligence in the lab. Platforms that unify sample identity, metadata, and downstream analysis are crucial components of this trend.

Where LIMS, ELN, and AI intersect

One of the most striking shifts at SLAS in recent years is how digital systems — traditionally siloed — are becoming central to lab automation conversations:

• LIMS (Laboratory Information Management Systems) are no longer just back-office compliance tools. Modern LIMS platforms now serve as operational backbones that unify sample tracking, governance, and workflow automation with real-time context and control.
• ELNs (Electronic Lab Notebooks) continue to evolve beyond experiment documentation into collaboration hubs that connect scientists with data, instruments, and analytical systems.
• AI-Enabled Workflows are tying operational data to decision support — from experiment design guidance to predictive QC flags, anomaly detection, and adaptive resource planning.

This convergence — automation hardware + LIMS + ELN + AI — is part of the broader transformation of the “connected lab” that SLAS aims to capture. Attendees will see how the technologies that once lived in separate silos are blending into cohesive systems that accelerate scientific output while reducing friction.

Why Genemod is exhibiting [Booth #1835]

Genemod will be attending and exhibiting at Booth #1835 during the SLAS 2026 exhibition — a strategic presence that reflects Genemod’s positioning at the intersection of software innovation and operational execution.

At a conference dedicated to automation and integrated workflows, Genemod brings a unique perspective: a platform that connects samples, experiments, files, and workflows into a single environment that supports both daily lab operations and scaled R&D execution.

What Genemod will highlight

• Operational LIMS capabilities: Genemod helps labs manage sample identity, lineage, and location while linking them to experiments and results.
• AI-enhanced efficiency: By integrating modern AI into workflow suggestions, error detection, and metadata harmonization, Genemod enhances human-machine collaboration.
• Connected scientific context: Unlike legacy LIMS or siloed ELNs, Genemod unifies disparate artifacts — samples, unstructured files, and structured data — into a coherent, searchable system.

Visitors to Booth #1835 can explore how a modern lab platform supports execution, reduces rework, and accelerates operational scale — themes that are right at the core of SLAS 2026’s mission. SLAS isn’t just about automation machines; it’s about the software and data layers that make those machines effective and sustainable at scale.

How to get the most out of SLAS 2026

Whether you’re attending keynotes, hands-on short courses, or exploring exhibits like Genemod’s, here are a few practical tips:

• Plan ahead: Use the official SLAS event scheduler to map sessions aligned with your priorities — especially tracks like Data Science & AI, Automation, and Sample Management.
• Engage with workshops: Pre-conference workshops and technology showcases are great for in-depth exposure to emerging trends.
• Network actively: Industry mixers, poster sessions, and vendor booths provide opportunities to learn not just what the next technologies are — but how labs are actually adopting them.