Reimagining Adherent Cell Assays: Flexible Automation with firefly® and SemaCyte® Technologies

In this webinar, we present a novel collaboration between Semarion and SPT Labtech aimed at unlocking scalable, high-throughput adherent cell assays through the integration of SemaCyte microcarriers with the firefly automated liquid handling platform.

March 30th at 4pm BST

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About this webinar

SemaCyte microcarriers are flat, barcoded supports for adherent cells that can be cryopreserved, multiplexed, and moved like reagents while maintaining cell viability and morphology. This fundamentally changes how adherent cells are handled—enabling miniaturization, flexibility, and increased throughput for functional or phenotypic assays. When combined with SPT Labtech’s firefly, an agile liquid handler designed for end-to-end assay automation, these microcarriers create a powerful, flexible solution for scalable adherent cell assay workflows.  

Our joint project focuses on developing robust, automated protocols for dispensing and processing SemaCyte-loaded microwells with minimal manual intervention. We will highlight protocol development across several key assay types, including multiplexed cell painting and antibody binding using high-content imaging readouts. For cell painting, we demonstrate how four cell lines can be pooled within a single well and deconvoluted post-imaging using optical barcodes, drastically reducing plate usage and increasing assay fidelity. Similarly, we explore fully automated antibody binding assays targeting EGFR using wild-type and knockout cell lines. 

This collaboration showcases a flexible, miniaturized, and automation-ready platform that reduces reagent usage, lowers assay costs, and accelerates timelines—without compromising on data quality. Together, Semarion and SPT Labtech are enabling a new class of workflows for researchers aiming to extract more data from every cell, well, and run. 

Key topics
  • Protocol development across several key assay types
  • Fully automated antibody binding assays

Speakers

2-Feb-10-2026-10-01-43-7183-AMJeroen Verheyen is Co-founder and CEO of Semarion, a spin-out from the University of Cambridge’s Cavendish Laboratory. With a background in cell biology, he leads Semarion’s work at the interface of materials science and life science. His expertise lies in developing advanced in vitro tools for drug discovery, including the proprietary SemaCyte® microcarrier platform. Jeroen focuses on enabling scalable, automated, and high-fidelity cell assays by combining novel materials engineering with standard life science workflows.

3-Feb-10-2026-10-01-38-2851-AMMaryia Karpiyevich is a Product Development Scientist at SPT Labtech, working cross-functionally with customers, engineers, and product teams to shape intuitive, high-impact automation solutions. She holds a PhD from the University of Cambridge and brings a strong background in molecular biology and product development. At SPT Labtech, Maryia plays a key role in advancing the firefly platform and exploring how it can evolve to support future scientific applications. She is passionate about enabling ambitious experimentation through thoughtful, user-driven automation.

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