Touching Base (GEN Podcasts)
Women in Science, Robotics, Automation, SLAS, and Lilly Updates
Touching Base (GEN Podcasts)
•February 13, 2026•32 min
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Touching Base (GEN Podcasts)•Feb 13, 2026
Why It Matters
Integrating robotics and AI reshapes how life‑science experiments are performed, promising faster, more reproducible discoveries. Highlighting women’s contributions underscores the need for diversity to drive innovation, while Lilly’s large‑scale investments signal a shifting focus toward transformative therapies in cancer and immune diseases.
Key Takeaways
- •Term 'scientist' coined for Mary Somerville in 1834.
- •METRA creates physical AI robots that design and run experiments.
- •Physical AI adds decision‑making sensors beyond traditional lab automation.
- •SLAS showcased OpenTrons using NVIDIA tools for AI training data.
- •Lilly spends $2.4B acquiring Orna Therapeutics CAR‑T platform.
Pulse Analysis
Women in Science Day reminded listeners that the very word "scientist" was invented for Mary Somerville in 1834, highlighting the long‑standing contributions of women to discovery. The episode also celebrated modern leadership initiatives, such as SLAS's inaugural "Thrive in Science" forum, which aims to empower women through mentorship, personal branding, and equity training. By foregrounding these narratives, the podcast underscores how gender diversity fuels innovation across biotech and automation sectors.
The conversation shifted to cutting‑edge lab automation, distinguishing traditional high‑throughput robotics from emerging physical AI. METRA’s CEO Michelle Lee described robots that not only execute protocols but also generate hypotheses, interpret results, and make real‑time decisions—mirroring self‑driving car technology. OpenTrons’ partnership with NVIDIA, highlighted at SLAS, demonstrates how AI‑generated training data can enhance sensor‑driven instruments. Sustainability also featured, with Polk Fixing introducing paper‑based consumables that reduce single‑use plastic while maintaining performance in liquid handlers, signaling a growing eco‑conscious trend in laboratory design.
Finally, the episode examined Eli Lilly’s aggressive pipeline expansion. The $2.4 billion acquisition of Orna Therapeutics adds an in‑vivo CAR‑T platform targeting autoimmune diseases, while an $8.85 billion collaboration with China’s Innovent Biologics broadens oncology and immunology pipelines. These moves complement Lilly’s cash‑rich position from terzepatide sales in diabetes and obesity, illustrating a strategic pivot beyond metabolics into gene‑cell therapies and AI‑enabled drug discovery. Collectively, the discussion paints a picture of a biotech landscape where women leadership, physical AI, and high‑value partnerships drive the next wave of scientific breakthroughs.
Episode Description
Women in Science Day (February 11) was the top of the list for discussion for GEN editors in this week’s podcast. They shared an anecdote on the history of the term “scientist”—hint it was coined for a woman. A modern scientist, Medra CEO Michelle Lee, discussed with GEN how the company is integrating robotics with AI for use in biological research. GEN attended SLAS this week and we got an update on the automation updates along with endeavors to increase the presence of women in biotech leadership. Finally, we get an update on Eli Lilly’s recent major deals followed by an update on Nektar Therapeutics clinical trial updates.
Join GEN editors Corinna Singleman, PhD, Fay Lin, PhD, Uduak Thomas and Alex Philippidis for a discussion of the latest biotech and biopharma news.
Listed below are links to the GEN stories referenced in this episode of Touching Base:
Data Is a Robotics Problem, Medra CEO Says Physical AI Will Transform Biology
By Fay Lin, PhD, GEN Edge, February 11, 2026
Robots on the Red Line: A Video Update from SLAS 2026
GEN, February 11, 2026
SLAS Highlights: AI Labs, Small-Molecule SPR, Protein Interaction Assays, and Paper Labware
By Uduak Thomas, GEN, February 11, 2026
SLAS Highlights: Opening Keynote Spotlights Novel Target in Genomically Unstable Tumors
By Uduak Thomas, GEN, February 11, 2026
Opentrons Uses Nvidia Tech to Build Training Data That Powers Physical AI in the Lab
By Uduak Thomas, GEN, February 9, 2026
Beyond Obesity: Lilly Inks Up to $11.25B in Cancer, Immune System Deals
By Alex Philippidis, GEN Edge, February 10, 2026
Lilly, Seamless Ink Up-to-$1.12B Hearing Loss Collaboration
By Alex Philippidis, GEN Edge, January 28, 2026
Touching Base Podcast
Hosted by Corinna Singleman, PhD
Behind the Breakthroughs
Hosted by Jonathan D. Grinstein, PhD
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Show Notes
Women in Science Day (February 11) was the top of the list for discussion for GEN editors in this week’s podcast. They shared an anecdote on the history of the term “scientist”—hint it was coined for a woman. A modern scientist, Medra CEO Michelle Lee, discussed with GEN how the company is integrating robotics with AI for use in biological research. GEN attended SLAS this week and we got an update on the automation updates along with endeavors to increase the presence of women in biotech leadership. Finally, we get an update on Eli Lilly’s recent major deals followed by an update on Nektar Therapeutics clinical trial updates.
Join GEN editors Corinna Singleman, PhD, Fay Lin, PhD, Uduak Thomas and Alex Philippidis for a discussion of the latest biotech and biopharma news.
Listed below are links to the GEN stories referenced in this episode of Touching Base:
Data Is a Robotics Problem, Medra CEO Says Physical AI Will Transform Biology
By Fay Lin, PhD, GEN Edge, February 11, 2026
Robots on the Red Line: A Video Update from SLAS 2026
GEN, February 11, 2026
SLAS Highlights: AI Labs, Small-Molecule SPR, Protein Interaction Assays, and Paper Labware
By Uduak Thomas, GEN, February 11, 2026
SLAS Highlights: Opening Keynote Spotlights Novel Target in Genomically Unstable Tumors
By Uduak Thomas, GEN, February 11, 2026
Opentrons Uses Nvidia Tech to Build Training Data That Powers Physical AI in the Lab
By Uduak Thomas, GEN, February 9, 2026
Beyond Obesity: Lilly Inks Up to $11.25B in Cancer, Immune System Deals
By Alex Philippidis, GEN Edge, February 10, 2026
Lilly, Seamless Ink Up-to-$1.12B Hearing Loss Collaboration
By Alex Philippidis, GEN Edge, January 28, 2026
Hosted by Corinna Singleman, PhD
Hosted by Jonathan D. Grinstein, PhD
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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