Abstract
As science and technologies have evolved, so have the societies and groups that come together to share, educate, and catalyze innovation. SLAS originated from the merger of the Association for Laboratory Automation (ALA) and the Society for Biomolecular Sciences (SBS). As new disciplines grew with a desire for more focus, other organizations and societies emerged.
The need for an independent organization became evident for those involved in high-content screening, imaging, analysis, and associated informatics. Many of these scientists were members of SBS/ALA/SLAS and were valued contributors to the conferences, educational tracks, and special interest groups (SIGs). In 2012, a small group of these scientists got together to establish the Society for Biomolecular Imaging and Informatics. These scientists included Anthony Davies, Roy Edward, J. Paul Robinson, Steve Haney, Paul Johnston, and Joe Trask. Their general mission was to “represent the scientists, engineers, informatics specialists, and vendors that develop and utilize biomolecular imaging and informatics approaches for cellular analysis.”
Over the last 8 years, SBI2 has continued to flourish, more recently focusing on relevant emerging topics like machine learning, artificial intelligence, 3D tumor models, and imaging methodology. They have maintained an emphasis on having meetings with a strong educational component. During this time, many SBI2 members continued to also participate in SLAS conferences and satellite meetings. A natural synergy developed between the two societies, whereby SLAS fulfilled a broader mission and SBI2 remained a participant but with its own independent focus, expertise, and symposia. Since 2013, SLAS and SBI2 have co-hosted the “HCS/HCA Data and Informatics” SIG session. To further our partnership, it seemed most timely and appropriate to showcase an SLAS Discovery special issue on SBI2.
As editor-in-chief of SLAS Discovery, I am pleased to introduce Paul Johnston and Myles Fennell as the guest editors for this SBI2 special issue. Paul Johnston has been a longtime member of SLAS, SIG chair, and one of the founders/past presidents of SBI2. Myles Fennell is a member of the SBI2 Publications and Bylaws Committees and past president of SBI2. Both Paul and Myles are experienced scientific leaders in assay development, high-content screening, drug discovery, and cell biology. I invite you to learn more about the excellent, cutting-edge science of SBI2 in this issue and look forward to our continued collaboration.