Friends of the ALA Program

Overview

The science of laboratory automation spans several scientific disciplines and industries, such as drug discovery and development, clinical and molecular diagnostics, food and agricultural sciences, forensic and security sciences, and energy sciences to name just a few.

ALA is the only organization that offers targeted scientific and practical cross-industry information regarding automated systems and emerging technologies in the laboratory.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and more than 300 nationally recognized leaders in academia, industry, government, and the public recently completed the "NIH Roadmap to Accelerate Medical Discovery to Improve Health."

The NIH Roadmap clearly identifies technology development as a mission critical factor in the Molecular Libraries and Imaging Implementation section ("New Pathways to Discovery," www.nihroadmap.nih.gov). ALA, its scientific journal (JALA), and its conference and exposition (LabAutomation2009 in Palm Springs, CA, January 24-28, 2009), are uniquely positioned to be the primary vehicle for delivering information and reporting technological advancements for laboratories serving a variety of industries around the world.

Whether content-based or marketing centric, ALA is flexible and ready to work with your organization to craft mutually beneficial programs. Instructor exchanges, guest editors, in-depth scientific articles, advertising, webinars, list exchanges, online information, free meeting space — the ideas and possibilities are endless.

The ALA provides meeting space at LabAutomation as follows:

• Space is available on a first-come, first-served basis (Subject to ALA policies and Board approval.)

• Space is available at no cost; room capacities: 45-70 people

• Expense items such as food and beverage, audio visual, speakers, etc. are assumed by your organization or special interest group

• Organizations or special interest groups may reserve up to a maximum of three-consecutive hours on those applicable days as noted above.

• Participating Friends are not allowed to charge admission or any fee to participants.

• Your organization may conduct its regular business meetings, regional and chapter meetings, and educational sessions with speakers. However, you are not allowed to sell space for exhibits and/or sponsorships or advertising; or schedule your meeting concurrently with the scientific sessions.

• Your organization and/or special interest group is responsible for promoting its meeting. However, the ALA will work with you to include information in all its pre-event marketing materials, on our web site, and in the conference final program.

For more information or to discuss the possibilities for partnership, please contact ALA Executive Director, Greg Dummer, CAE, directly at 888.733.1ALA; or gdummer@labautomation.org