Sapio Sciences selected for Sanger Institute LIMS transformation
The Wellcome Sanger Institute has selected Sapio Sciences’ informatics platform as its central laboratory information management system (LIMS) to support a comprehensive digital transformation programme aimed at unifying genomics workflows across the organisation.
The multi-year initiative will see the Institute transition from multiple legacy LIMS solutions to a unified platform centred on Sapio LIMS. The system will support large-scale genomic research, demand planning and laboratory operations across the Institute’s Core Operations team, which provides cellular and genomic workflows underpinning end-to-end research and data generation processes.
Addressing workflow fragmentation challenges
The transformation addresses current operational challenges stemming from a fragmented digital infrastructure. The Institute currently relies on disparate tools developed for specific workflow needs, including sample management, storage, planning and laboratory execution. This patchwork approach has complicated cross-team coordination, end-to-end work planning and progress visibility for scientific teams.
Simon Moore, Chief Operating Officer at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, highlighted a key operational challenge: “Giving our scientists clear, reliable answers to ‘Where is my sample and where is my data?’ across complex, multi-team workflows is one of our biggest challenges. To plan and deliver their research, our scientists need confidence that sample progress and critical data are always visible and accessible.”
Core capabilities and implementation scope
The transformation programme encompasses several critical operational areas. Sapio LIMS will become the dominant platform within Core Operations, providing full visibility of sample progress across complex workflows with real-time access to scientific and quality control data. The system will support configurable workflows spanning experiment preparation, laboratory execution and primary analysis whilst integrating with a broad range of instruments, including cutting-edge equipment the Institute is often amongst the first to adopt.
The platform will establish an AI-ready laboratory infrastructure, offering capabilities such as guided workflows and enhanced data access whilst maintaining scientist control over decision-making in line with Institute principles. The implementation will promote consistent sample lifecycle management, clearer tracking through cellular and sequencing operations, and improved linkage between samples, process steps and associated documentation.
Strategic simplification and resource optimisation
As workflows migrate to Sapio LIMS, the Institute plans to retire overlapping LIMS and point solutions, reducing system complexity for users and support teams. This consolidation aims to encourage reuse and extension of existing capabilities rather than proliferation of additional point solutions. The programme is designed to accelerate deployment of new technologies and workflows, maintaining the Institute’s position at the forefront of genomic research.
Mike Hampton, Chief Commercial Officer at Sapio Sciences, said: “Sanger helped set the standard for large-scale genomics, and they have very clear expectations for their scientific enablement. With this project, we will work together to put Sapio LIMS at the centre of their lab operations, cut out avoidable friction in day-to-day work, and give teams better visibility of the data, workflows and resources that drive their science.”
The transformation will initially focus on workflows, data and instruments used across the Cellular Platforms and Genomic Platforms teams, with plans to extend implementation across all research teams. Enhanced demand and resource planning capabilities will enable Core Operations to build a comprehensive view of laboratory demand, facilitating improved scheduling of runs and coordination of equipment, personnel and materials across complex multi-step workflows.
The Sapio Informatics Platform includes LIMS, Sapio ELaiN (an AI laboratory notebook) and Scientific Data Cloud, supporting applications from next-generation sequencing and bio-analysis to histopathology and antibody discovery.
