Another strong showing across the board in a hard-fought contest for the Lab Awards 2025.

If the health of an industry can be measured in terms of those receiving the accolades, the laboratory sector appears to be thriving. The annual Lab Awards once again cast a spotlight on major players, innovation, sustainability and new talent.

Hosted as always on the first day of the Lab Innovations Show, on the Future of Laboratories stage, there was a total of 13 categories representing all sections of the industry.

Presenter Matthew Partridge – director of outreach and senior enterprise fellow at Southampton University School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, as well as Laboratory News’ Laboratology columnist – drew on years of experience as a Lab Awards judge when he acknowledged the standards for 2025.

“The calibre of entries has been nothing short of exceptional – you’ve shown just how much talent, innovation and dedication exists across our industry,” he commented.

One of the sector’s biggest names, AstraZeneca, dominated the field and walked away with four awards. Second on the day was Bia Analytical which claimed two trophies that included one won by Rising Star Dr Stephanie Heaney.

The Lab Awards are jointly organised by Lab Innovations and Laboratory News, whose publisher, Synthesis Media owner Sean Marshall (pictured above) also chairs the judging panel.

However, said Partridge, credit was due also to the four companies which provided the vital sponsorship for the event, including Scientific Laboratory Supplies, Shimadzu, LabOS and My Green Lab.

If you didn’t have the opportunity to attend last year’s Lab Awards, here is the full list of this year’s worthy recipients…

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT

Andrew King, AstraZeneca

Global Quality SHE, Sustainability and QC IT Lead at the pharmaceutical giant, King “has made an extraordinary contribution to the laboratory community, combining dedication, vision and leadership. His achievements inspire not only colleagues but the entire industry,” said the judges.

BEST CONSUMABLES INNOVATION

Merah Medical, Samplar Max Auto

The product impressed the judges with its ability to streamline workflows and deliver consistent results… “a great example of how thoughtful consumable design can have a real-world impact in the lab”.

Shortlisted:

• Scientific Laboratory Supplies’ Cerillo Co-Culture Duets
• Scientific Laboratory Supplies’ Clara, 6-Well 50 mL Cell Culture Plate
• Lampadina Scientific Ltd, Eco-Sharps Bin

BEST SUSTAINABLE INNOVATION

Eppendorf Biobased Pipette Tips from Scientific Laboratory Supplies

This innovation was deemed to have showed a “clear commitment to reducing environmental impact without compromising performance – a strong step forward in sustainable lab consumables”.

Shortlisted:

• Starlab (UK) Ltd, Closed-loop recycling/TipOne pipette tip system
• Envetec – Generations, Trafalgar Scientific
• Lampadina Scientific Ltd, Recycle Lab Recycling Boxes
• Sartorius, VivaflowSU

SUSTAINABILITY BEST PRACTICE – LABORATORY

AstraZeneca’s Green Labs Program

SUSTAINABILITY BEST PRACTICE – SUPPLIER

Nettle Meadow Nature Reserve by CAMLAB

A dual award with two categories and sponsored by My Green Lab, whose business development director Ray Patey presented the prizes. There was a second win for AstraZeneca which achieved four individual shortlist entries in the sustainability Best Practice categories. Its Green Labs Program won the laboratory accolade for “a huge global initiative producing tangible benefits across an entire organisation; putting sustainability at the foundation of their lab practices”.

Meanwhile CAMLAB’s work on Nettle Meadow reserve won plaudits for “a thoughtful, peoplecentred approach to sustainability, highlighting biodiversity and wellbeing as often overlooked impact areas”.

Shortlisted (both categories):

• University of Oxford, Dunn School Green Group
• AstraZeneca, LAL Laboratory
• AstraZeneca, Laboratory
• AstraZeneca, Water Sample Reduction
• University of Exeter, Making Clinical Education and Training Sustainable

BEST RESEARCH PROJECT

AstraZeneca, NGS

Marketing director Idan Yatziv, presented the award on behalf of sponsor LabOS, marking a hat trick for AstraZeneca, which “stood out for its innovation and the way it has advanced scientific understanding with direct relevance to real-world healthcare challenges”.

Shortlisted:

• BrickSDLab, 5-HT Chemistry
• Hurdle.bio, Hurdle’s Biomarker Discovery Engine
• Bia Analytical Ltd, Portable Food Integrity Testing: From Lab Research to Real-World Impact
• Bia Analytical Ltd, Rapid identification of soya origin to aid EUDR compliance

COMMITMENT TO SKILLS & TRAINING

The Science Apprenticeship Forum

Longstanding awards judge Jiteen Ahmed, head of technical services at Aston University, praised the forum for “empowering the next generation of scientists through accessible, practical learning pathways”.

Shortlisted:

• Element Lab Solutions & CHROMacademy
• Shimadzu UK l AstraZeneca, Supplier Partner AI Literacy
• AstraZeneca, Tulip Citizen Developer Training

BEST AUTOMATION & DATA INNOVATION

Bia Analytical, Biametric Portal & Risk Dashboard

Judges admired its “clarity, scalability and potential to transform how laboratories interpret complex datasets and mitigate risks”, describing the product as “a huge step forward”.

Shortlisted:

• LabsCubed Inc, Automated Tensile Testing Machines
• Scientific Laboratory Supplies, Azenta BioArc Ultra – 80°C Automated Sample Storage System
• Scientific Laboratory Supplies, The Nestor System by Cellaven
• Azenta IntelliXcap 96 Screw Cap Tube Decapper/ Recapper, Scientific Laboratory Supplies

BEST TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION

Sotax for JetX

This “technology sets a new bar in efficiency and precision, offering transformative benefits for laboratories worldwide”, announced the judges in their decision.

Shortlisted:

• Absci
• NIPPON Genetics EUROPE, Gel imaging system – FastGene FAS-X
• University of Bradford, Liberating Learning using the MaRILU System
• The Total Electronic Control Co Ltd, Multicellular Flow Cytometer for Mosquito Sex Selection
• Thermo Fisher Scientific, Orbitrap Excedion Pro Mass Spectrometer

LAB OF THE YEAR

AstraZeneca, Mount Vernon Quality Control Laboratory

Presented by Ania Cooper, UK marketing manager at sponsor Shimadzu, the award went to the pharmaceutical giant’s Mount Vernon lab with judges highlighting “this lab’s exceptional standards, innovation in practice, and its role as an industry leader”.

Shortlisted:

• Cansford Laboratories Ltd
• AstraZeneca, Macclesfield Laboratory
• Sussex Pathology
• Pioneer Group, Victoria House’s Incubation Labs

SUPPLIER EXCELLENCE

Shimadzu – Because Science Is Personal

Regular judge Kath Darlington, CEO and founder of The Scott Partnership, presented the award that recognises outstanding customer support and service to Shimadzu for “clear focus on personalised support and long-term relationships with their customers, with a good use of testimonials in their entry”.

Highly Commended:

Element Lab Solutions

Shortlisted:

• Anthias Consulting
• Interactive Software & Tropic

RISING STAR

Dr Stephanie Heaney, Bia Analytical

The Outstanding Achievement winner in 2024, Science Council applicant support mentor for professional registration, Laurence Dawkins-Hall, was the award presenter this year for this coveted category. In a strong field Stephanie Heaney won through for having demonstrated “exceptional initiative and leadership potential, making her a standout figure with a bright future ahead”.

Shortlisted:

• Dr Andrew Manning, Clean Air Ltd
• Dr James Cosby, B&M Longworth
• Dr Shanom Ali, Environmental Research Laboratory – UCL Hospitals NHS Trust
• Maggie Majerczuk, Revvity

LAB TECHNICIAN OF THE YEAR

Natallia Makava, University of Leeds

Lab Awards stalwart Scientific Laboratory Supplies has itself been a frequent nominee but, as sponsor on this occasion, its marketing manager Joshua Chapman presented the winner of this hotly fought award. “Natallia’s outstanding technical expertise and dedication shone through, setting a benchmark for excellence in lab support,” declared the judges.

Highly Commended: Lauryn Jewkes, SureScreen Scientifics

Shortlisted:

• Eve Logan, Bia Analytical
• Eve McCallion, Scientific Laboratory Supplies
• Orla Gallagher, Scientific Labratory Supplies
• Radhika, Bia Analytical