Alexander Dömling, Czech Advanced Technology and Research Institute, Palacký University Olomouc, Czech Republic

Title: Automation + Miniaturization = Acceleration

Abstract:“Boring is good,” some say, reflecting the steady reliability of traditional engineering, while “Data is the new oil” has become the mantra of modern innovation. Chemistry, long viewed as a conservative discipline, now stands at a transformative crossroads shaped by disruptive technologies. Artificial intelligence—through large language models (LLMs) and related tools—rapidly processes complex challenges, reshaping how we approach intellectual property, knowledge discovery, and molecular design. In parallel, highly miniaturized and automated synthesis platforms are redefining how molecules are created and optimized. In the Dömling laboratory, supported by the ERC Advanced Grant AMADEUS and the ERA Chair ACCELERATOR, we embrace the principle: Automation + Miniaturization = Acceleration. In 2019, we introduced acoustic droplet ejection (ADE) technology for small-molecule synthesis, enabling execution of thousands of reactions per day at nanoliter scale (ACS Cent. Sci. 2019, 5, 451-457). ADE combines unparalleled precision with high speed—2.5 nL droplets at up to 400 Hz into 1536-well plates—validated across dozens of transformations. Coupled with rapid MS analytics and miniaturized purification, this provides immediate feedback and compound availability. By integrating generative neural networks and property-driven selection, ADE generates “big data” for machine learning, advancing reactivity prediction and molecular optimization. Furthermore, coupling ADE with protein mass spectrometry accelerates discovery of covalent inhibitors against disease-relevant targets at unprecedented throughput. A new era is emerging in chemistry—defined by robust automation, data-rich experimentation, and the synergy of AI with miniaturized synthesis—redefining the discovery process itself.

Shortbio: Prof. Alexander Dömling is ERA Chair of the Innovative Chemistry Group at Palacký University Olomouc, where his research focuses on the design and discovery of bioactive compounds for difficult drug targets such as protein–protein interactions, transcription factors, and RNA. He received his PhD under Ivar Ugi at the Technical University of Munich and carried out postdoctoral studies with Nobel laureate Barry Sharpless at The Scripps Research Institute. At the University of Pittsburgh, where he became Full Professor, he co-developed the widely used web-based discovery tool ANCHOR.QUERY. From 2011 to 2022 he was Chair of Drug Design at the University of Groningen. He now leads the ERC Advanced Grant–funded AMADEUS platform, which introduces a novel paradigm for preclinical drug discovery by integrating nanoliter dispensing, high-throughput chemistry, purification, screening, and machine learning. With over 300 publications and more than 70 patents, he is also a serial entrepreneur translating innovation “from bench to bedside.”