Beyond Throughput: AI, Data Quality, and the Future of Scientific Discovery

Rhianna-lily graduated from the University of East Anglia with a BSc in biomedicine and completed her MSc by Research in microbiology at the Quadram Institute Bioscience in 2023. Her research primarily focused on the gut microbiome in pregnant women throughout gestation. During her MSc, she developed a passion for science communication and later joined Technology Networks as a Science Writer and Editor, where she works with the news team to cover the latest breaking news and produce Teach Me in 10 videos.

Neil Kelleher, PhD, is a Professor at Northwestern University, holding appointments in Molecular Biosciences, Chemistry, and Medicine. A pioneer of top-down proteomics, his research focuses on mass spectrometry, natural product discovery, and cancer biology. He leads the Human Proteoform Project, a global effort to catalogue human proteins and accelerate disease research and drug development. Kelleher earned his PhD from Cornell University and completed postdoctoral work at Harvard Medical School. He has authored over 300 publications and founded the Consortium for Top-Down Proteomics.

For the past 25 years, Dr. Matthew Lewis has pursued his interests in better understanding biochemical processes and improving the analytical tools and techniques used to measure them. At Imperial College London, he served as the chief operating officer of the UK's National Phenome Centre and head of the academic section of Bioanalytical Chemistry in the Faculty of Medicine. Here, he worked to advance the understanding of human disease phenotypes using advanced bioanalytical and data analysis techniques for metabolic profiling at a previously unprecedented scale. Lewis transitioned to industry in 2022 to more directly further the development of research-enabling solutions through his role at Bruker Daltonics. He takes great pleasure in extensive engagement in interdisciplinary team science and large-scale scientific collaborations, supporting advancements in the fields of metabolomics and lipidomics.

Warren B. Potts is Vice President and General Manager of the Gas Phase Division at Agilent Technologies, based in Worcester, Massachusetts. He is a seasoned sales and marketing executive with a strong track record of leading and transforming teams, driving revenue growth, and expanding business across global markets. Warren brings deep expertise in sales management, business strategy, marketing strategy, business development, and team leadership, and is passionate about applying cutting-edge science to solve real-world problems. He values the opportunity to use his global commercial experience to shape strategic plans that drive profitable growth while making a positive impact on the world. At Agilent, his work spans the company's gas-phase technologies, including gas chromatography systems, supporting industries from environmental testing to clean energy and semiconductor manufacturing.

James Hallam is vice president of Waters Corporation’s LC-MS business segment with global responsibility for product development and commercialization of liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry-based solutions. Mr Hallam has 30 years’ experience in the pharmaceutical and life sciences tools market. He previously held roles within sales, marketing, and general management at Waters including vice president of Waters’ commercial business in EMEA, and prior to joining Waters worked within pharmaceutical quality control environments for GSK and Teva Pharmaceuticals. He graduated from Nottingham University with an honors degree in Chemistry.

As Vice President of Product Management at SCIEX, Jose Castro-Perez oversees the global portfolio for CE, LC/MS, software and accessories, managing product lines, technology roadmaps, development and growth. With 25 years in Pharma, CRO, and Biotech, he previously held senior marketing and business development roles at Waters. Since joining SCIEX in 2019 as Senior Director of Accurate Mass Product Management, he has led strategy and execution across that portfolio and directed market development efforts. Jose holds a BSc in Chemistry from King’s College London, an MSc from the University of Surrey, and a PhD in Metabolomics from Leiden University.

Professor Konstantinos Thalassinos is based at the Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, a joint venture between UCL and Birkbeck, where he leads research in advanced mass spectrometry. He serves as Academic Lead for the UCL Mass Spectrometry Science Technology Platform (MS-STP), providing researchers with the instrumentation and specialist expertise needed to tackle complex biological questions. A pioneer in ion mobility mass spectrometry, Konstantinos was involved in the development of the first commercial ion mobility mass spectrometer, the Waters Synapt, during his PhD, and has used the technology to advance understanding of biomolecular structures and dynamics ever since. His current work applies cyclic ion mobility mass spectrometry to resolve structural ensembles, pushing beyond the limits of tools like AlphaFold. He is a frequent speaker at international conferences including ASMS and ACS, and mentors the next generation of mass spectrometry scientists at UCL.

Laura holds a BSc in Zoology from Queen Mary University of London, an MSc in Palaeoanthropology from UCL, and a PhD in Environmental Sciences from Royal Holloway, University of London. Her academic journey has been fueled by a broad interest in the life sciences and a passion for making complex science accessible to diverse audiences. Before joining Technology Networks in 2025, she gained experience across several areas of science communication, including e-learning, external communications, and science writing. Her work has focused on translating technical research into engaging, understandable content tailored for both specialist and general audiences. As a Scientific Content Producer for custom video content at Technology Networks, Laura is particularly interested in bridging the gap between scientific discovery and public engagement through creative storytelling. Her work aims to support scientific literacy while highlighting the real-world impact of research and innovation.