Analytical Solutions 2025 shows in Ede how AI is changing the laboratory world
Ede - On Tuesday, June 3, the annual Analytical Solutions event took place at the Reehorst conference center in Ede. This leading conference brought together experts, researchers and professionals around the theme “Artificial Intelligence Solutions for Laboratory Technology.” The day focused on the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) in laboratories, and how this technology is fundamentally changing scientific research.
AI as a catalyst for innovation
The opening lectures made it immediately clear that AI is no longer an experimental addition, but a driving force behind modern analytical chemistry. Using algorithms, machine learning and automatic data processing, workflows are being optimized, accuracy increased and large data sets made manageable.
Keynote speaker Anneli Kruve, professor at Stockholm University, presented leading research at the intersection of AI and non-target screening. She emphasized that the majority of chemicals detected via non-target liquid chromatography combined with high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) in environmental samples remain unknown. This makes identifying potentially harmful substances - such as endocrine disrupting compounds (EDs) - particularly complex.
Kruve showed how machine learning can be used to predict the biological activity of these unknown substances. Her research included using the Tox21 dataset to predict the activity of unidentified substances across 12 bioassays targeting EDs. In addition, she introduced the innovative tool MS2Tox: an AI model that can predict acute fish toxicity of unknown molecules using MS² mass spectra even before their chemical structure is known. This approach enables laboratories to rapidly prioritize high-risk compounds in complex environmental samples - a breakthrough in environmental analysis and risk assessment.
Hands-on sessions in the afternoon
The program, organized by MCT (MilieuChemTox), offered an inspiring series of lectures from within chemical analysis with compelling case studies:
- Saer Samanipour, (University of Amsterdam), made a penetrating contribution on the rapidly expanding “chemical space” of the exposome - the total chemical exposure of an individual. Applying new forms of molecular representation and projection methods can reveal striking patterns in complex data sets. This opens the door to more effective analytical methods for unknown or rarely studied substances in the environment.
- Frederic Béen (KWR & VU Amsterdam) spoke about data integration, and he presented examples on how machine learning can help in prioritizing the vast amount of data, and better recognizing transformation products and other unknown substances. He showed examples from research on substances in wastewater and drinking water, among others.
- Leonieke van den Bulk, (Wageningen Food Safety Research), presented her work on a data-driven prioritization tool for food safety. This tool combines diverse data sources into one objective score, which can be used to prioritize substances - both with and without experimental data. This approach creates a more unbiased selection of high-risk compounds, which helps policymakers and laboratories work in a more focused and efficient manner.
Dissertation Award 2025: six promising young researchers
A highlight of the day was the presentation of six nominees for the Dissertation Award 2025. Each of them pitched their dissertations in short, powerful presentations:
- Mohammad Sadia - PFAS From Source to Tap: Analyzing PFAS in the Drinking Water Cycle and Ensuring Safe Consumption
- Bregje Willemijn Brinkmann - Nanomaterial safety for microbially-colonized hosts: microbiota-mediated physisorption interactions and particle-specific toxicity
- Annika Mangold-Döring - Modeling the effect of temperature and chemicals at different levels of biological organization
- Vera N. de Ruijter - Improving the Realism and the Relevance of Microplastic Effect Tests
- Olga Żygadłowska - Methane dynamics in seasonally euxinic coastal systems
- Joanke van Dijk - Towards a Safe and Sustainable Future - Mitigating environmental pollution across the chemical life cycle
The jury, consisting of representatives from various knowledge institutions, unanimously chose Annika Mangold-Döring as the winner. Her work on modeling temperature and chemical effects at multiple biological levels was praised for its innovation, applicability and scientific depth.
Jeroen Jansen (Radboud University), closed the day with a plenary lecture on how AI can connect analytical measurement strategies and operational resilience in laboratories. He illustrated how robust, data-driven systems contribute to better decision-making and reliable monitoring. He also demonstrated how AI and process analytics can help optimize manufacturing processes in industry.
Reflection
Analytical Solutions 2025 was held for the second time with a lively exhibition (Laboratory Technology) and several sessions from other organizations such as Fenelab and KNCV sections and COAST. The combination of keynotes, hands-on examples and young scientific talent offered a powerful perspective on the future of analytical science.
The conference showed that AI in the laboratory world is not hype, but part of current development. AI is a useful and powerful tool.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
