Core Projects

Hack the Lab Hackathon 2018

The story of Pistoia Alliance’s 2018 hackathon showing how collaboration can rapidly bring new ideas to established problems

Legitimate Use of Controlled Drugs: Research and Healthcare

The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) issued an interim letter to the Home Office on 22 December 2017, addressing the legitimate use of controlled drugs in research and healthcare. The ACMD acknowledged the complexity of balancing public health concerns with the need to facilitate scientific inquiry into Schedule 1 substances—those deemed to have no medicinal value. While recognizing the importance of stringent controls to prevent misuse, the ACMD proposed measures to streamline the licensing process and reduce regulatory burdens for legitimate research purposes. These recommendations aimed to enhance the UK’s capacity for innovative drug discovery and development, ensuring that research activities are not unduly hindered by existing legislative frameworks

Build Better Software for Life Sciences Using User Experience

In this webinar, you’ll gain a clear understanding of what User Experience (UX) is, the value it brings—particularly in the life sciences—and how to begin implementing UX practices within your organization. Our expert speakers will share personal stories of how they are driving change through improved UX and demonstrate how effective user experience design can transform research and development. The session will also highlight key initiatives, including the Pistoia Alliance’s User Experience Toolkit, developed specifically to support UX adoption in the R&D life science community.

UX Design – Maximising the Value of Scientific Software in Life Science R&D

This article discusses the often-overlooked importance of user experience (UX) in scientific software used within life sciences research and development. Despite significant investments in UX for external-facing products, many organizations neglect the usability of internal tools, leading to frustration and inefficiency among researchers. The authors highlight findings from a Pistoia Alliance initiative, revealing that nine leading biopharmaceutical companies have varying levels of UX investment and team composition. The article emphasizes that effective UX design can enhance productivity and collaboration, presenting a case study from Novartis to illustrate the impact of improved software usability on scientific workflows. It concludes by advocating for a shift in organizational priorities to recognize and invest in the UX of internal scientific software.