Advancing Cancer Research with AI-Driven Workflows: Insights from the AACR Annual Meeting 2026_Life Sciences_Galatek

The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) held its 2026 annual meeting in San Diego, CA, from April 17th through April 22nd. This meeting is a central part of the cancer research community where those involved in early research and development, through clinical trials, and beyond, convene to discuss advancements in cancer research with industry experts from around the globe.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being implemented across the scientific industry, and there was plenty of discussion at the event during the workshops and talks and on the exhibitor floor among students, seasoned researchers, and technology and service providers. It was clear that many in this audience are seeking AI-driven tools to move the science along faster, whether with advanced instrumentation enabling scientific workflows, and / or optimizing experimental procedures and data interpretation to improve understanding of the disease space.

In exploring the exhibition floor, there was a mix of large and small booths, from recognized pharmaceutical companies and commercial suppliers to new entities looking for the opportunity to get their name out there and show the industry what they can provide. The wide variety demonstrated the array of needs that exists for this research space.

Galatek had the pleasure of exhibiting at the AACR Annual Meeting this year for the first time.  Curiosity about the company - who we are and what we do - led to great conversations with attendees, some of whom arrived at our booth for a complimentary boba tea. Our Organoid Workstation (integrated liquid handling system for organoid workflows) and our Fully Integrated Organoid Platform (comprised of the Organoid Workstation, an incubator, plate reader, and cell imager, centered around a robotic arm) also grabbed the attention of many, as there has been a surge in interest in organoid research as an alternative to animal models. Visitors remarked that aside from our booth, they hadn't seen much automation on the exhibition floor, and certainly not for organoid workflows.

Making these systems even more impactful to the AACR audience was our software, a component which often takes second place to instrumentation. AI-driven workflows bring intelligence and predictive analytics that create significant efficiencies beyond on-board software alone. The ability to integrate digital systems with existing platforms was also very attractive.

Galatek's goal is to enable workflows based on our customers' science – not the other way around - an approach that answers a tremendous need across the life sciences industry – not just at the AACR Annual Meeting. Our team's passion for providing enabling technology through AI, automation, and integration is the foundation for how we are creating ways to better serve the life sciences.

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