For decades, HighRes has been a market leader in automated workflows for the life sciences. But over the years, we've seen a recurring challenge across labs of all sizes: fragmented workflows, siloed operations, and messy data flows that slow science down.
That's why we're applying our automation-first thinking beyond fully integrated systems and bringing it to the many labs that need smarter orchestration, not necessarily a full overhaul. The result is Cellario® Lab Assistant, our AI-powered tool built into Cellario software that guides scientists through complex workflows using plain, conversational language.
Natural language is now all you need to interpret, design, configure, and run laboratory workflows. Simply express your intent in plain English, and Cellario Lab Assistant, backed by our Atlas knowledge base, translates it into structured, executable workflows, bridging the gap between scientific ideas and reproducible execution.
Lab Assistant supports the full laboratory lifecycle:
At its core, Lab Assistant is powered by Cellario® Atlas, HighRes' accumulated intelligence in instrument operation, automation, and scientific process, built from decades of designing, deploying, and operating complex laboratory systems.
To show what this looks like in practice, we put together a recorded demo of a semi-automated qPCR workflow, from planning to execution to data analysis (Video 1).
Here's how it works.
Before anyone sets foot in the lab, Cellario Lab Assistant does the groundwork. Using natural language prompts — no specialized terminology and no memorizing software commands. The user simply asks the assistant what workflows are available, requests a summary of the desired qPCR protocol, and places a workflow order.
In the demo, the presenter, Russell Green, Principal Product Marketing Manager, types conversational questions like "I would like to run a qPCR. What workflows are available?" and "Briefly summarize the benchtop qPCR workflow for me." Lab Assistant responds with a clear, step-by-step overview of the protocol, and when the user is ready, it creates a titled, timestamped workflow order with a single prompt (Fig. 1).
Figure 1. Natural language is now all you need to interpret, design, configure, and run laboratory workflows. Simply express your intent in plain English, and Cellario Lab Assistant, backed by our Atlas knowledge base, translates it into structured, executable workflows, bridging the gap between scientific ideas and reproducible execution.
This isn't just a lookup tool. Cellario Lab Assistant can take action. It can create workflows, generate protocols, and initiate runs, all from natural language instructions (Fig. 2).
Figure 2. Cellario Lab Assistant can create workflows, generate protocols, and initiate runs, all from natural language instructions.
Once in the lab, the workflow appears on a tablet as a series of guided tasks (i.e., digital SOPs) that walk the operator through every manual step, interspersed with automated device controls that trigger instruments at exactly the right moment (Fig. 3).
The demo uses three instruments in sequence:
Each time the user completes a set of manual actions (loading labware, moving a plate, etc.) and confirms completion on the tablet, the software automatically triggers the next instrument. The qTOWER³ door even opens on its own, ready to receive the plate. No manual input needed.
Figure 3. Once in the lab, the workflow appears on a tablet as a series of guided tasks (i.e., digital SOPs) that walk the operator through every manual step, interspersed with automated device controls that trigger instruments at exactly the right moment.
The result is a workflow that is both highly consistent and fully traceable. Every action, intended and actual, is recorded throughout the run. And thanks to a direct integration with Opentrons' own AI, Cellario Lab Assistant can even generate Python-based Opentrons protocols from natural language method descriptions, further streamlining how workflows are built and customized.
With the run complete, the presenter returns to the office and opens Cellario Lab Assistant once more. A simple prompt like, "Show me the data from the last completed workflow," is enough for the assistant to locate the run, retrieve the output file, and present it directly in the interface.
One more prompt, and the assistant automatically writes and executes Python code in the background to generate a heatmap visualization of the qPCR results, for instance. No manual data wrangling, no switching between tools — just a natural language request and a publication-ready visual.
From there, the data can be downloaded, passed along to third-party software, or used as a jumping-off point for further analysis.
Watch our comprehensive video demo now to see how HighRes' Cellario® software orchestrates a semi-automated qPCR workflow using Cellario Lab Assistant:
Video 1. HighRes' Cellario® software orchestrates a semi-automated qPCR workflow using Cellario Lab Assistant.
What this demo illustrates isn't just a slick interface. It's a new way of thinking about lab operations. By combining guided digital SOPs, automated instrument control, and AI-driven data analysis under one orchestration layer, Cellario® gives labs the consistency and traceability of a fully integrated system, without requiring one.
Whether your lab is running cutting-edge integrated automation or navigating the realities of a more fragmented setup, Cellario Lab Assistant meets you where you are and helps you work smarter from day one.
HighRes is applying our automation expertise not just to fully integrated systems, but also to helping labs with fragmented, siloed workflows by using AI-driven orchestration software to bring everything together. Contact us today and a product specialist will reach out to give you a personal demo!