Ginkgo Bioworks Inc. (NYSE:DNA) is strengthening national biotechnology infrastructure by granting remote laboratory access through the National Science Foundation’s X-Labs program and integrating high-speed cellular imaging tools into its Boston facility.
White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director Michael Kratsios announced the partnership.
Under the arrangement announced Thursday, research teams will use Ginkgo’s automated infrastructure and protein testing services to express and characterize protein designs, including AI-generated models, without building physical wet-lab capacity.
Supporting National Science Foundation Research
The $1.5 billion, decade-long NSF X-Labs initiative delivers milestone-based funding to independent researchers, engineers, and entrepreneurs pursuing scientific breakthroughs.
Participating teams will use Ginkgo Cloud Lab to operate a fleet of more than 70 instruments spanning sample preparation, liquid handling, storage, incubation, and analytical readouts. This deployment aligns with the U.S. government’s vision for autonomous science.
Ginkgo already supports the NSF through the Programmable Cloud Laboratories Test Bed program, supplying equipment and software to cloud nodes at Caltech, the University of Maryland, and Northwestern University.
Expanding Autonomous Lab Capabilities With Advanced Imaging
In a parallel effort, Ginkgo partnered with Araceli Biosciences to integrate Araceli’s Endeavor high-content imaging system into Nebula, Ginkgo’s autonomous Boston laboratory.
Nebula utilizes more than 100 Reconfigurable Automation Carts (RACs)—modular robotic units featuring robotic arms, maglev sample transport, and unified Catalyst control software.
Operating day and night, Nebula runs parallel workflows for dozens of scientists while occupying roughly one-third of the physical space traditional lab benches require.
Delivering Real-Time Analysis For AI Model Validation
Recognized as the world’s fastest high-content imaging system, the Endeavor scans a 1536-well plate in less than four minutes to produce large datasets for training drug discovery AI models.
Integrated directly into Nebula’s RAC infrastructure, the instrument runs alongside ongoing experiments.
Powered by ClaireRT software, the platform analyzes every well during capture, alerting operators or pausing imaging when a sample fails to meet predefined criteria.
DNA Price Action: Ginkgo Bioworks Holdings shares were up 12.52% at $12.76 at the time of publication on Friday, according to Benzinga Pro data.
Image via Shutterstock/ Mohammed_Al_Ali
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